Dwyer kept two knives in workplace basement, court hears

Buck Special hunting knife was delivered to murder accused’s office the day before Elaine O’Hara allegely went missing in Dublin Mountains

Graham Dwyer drew gardaí a map that led them to two knives in the basement of his architect’s office, his trial has heard. One knife, marked “private and confidential”, had been delivered to his workplace the day before Elaine O’Hara went missing.

A detective sergeant gave the evidence yesterday on the 12th day of the 42-year-old’s trial at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Dwyer is charged with Ms O’Hara’s murder in the Dublin Mountains at Killakee, Rathfarnham on August 22, 2012. The Cork-born father of three of Kerrymount Close, Foxrock, Dublin has pleaded not guilty.

Det Sgt Peter Woods testified that, on February 17, 2014, he received a fax from Mr Dwyer’s solicitor, Jonathan Dunphy. It included a hand-drawn map of the basement of A&D Wejchert Architects, where Mr Dwyer was a partner.

Det Sgt Woods said this was something done on the initiative of the accused and his solicitor, not of gardaí, and that it was provided voluntarily.

Headed ‘Items of Interest’, it was divided into a plan of the basement showing areas including file storage and a view looking into the filing area. There were also written directions to a shelf, where two items would be found in one of two file boxes.

The detective said he and two colleagues took the map to A&D Wejchert’s premises on Lower Baggot St and were shown to the area where old files were stored. “In box 980, I found two knives — one larger than the other,” he said.

The detective took the larger knife out of its scabbard and held it up for the jury.

“This is the way we found it, in the leather scabbard,” he said. He explained that, when purchased, this knife comes in a presentation box.

He said that the scabbard was in good condition, apart from a number of small marks on the leather.

He also took the smaller knife, which he called a flick knife, out of its plastic tube.

He said the flick knife had been closed and the “safety” had been on when they found it. Both knives were in good condition, he said, describing the larger one as very clean.

Under cross-examination by Remy Farrell SC, defending, the detective confirmed his client had been charged on October 8, 2013. He agreed a book of evidence was prepared and it was clearer what the garda case would be.

Mr Farrell put it to him that it was apparent from the book of evidence that the gardaí were attaching considerable significance to documents that showed a Buck Special knife had been ordered from Active Hunting Ireland.

“The fact it was delivered on the 21st of August was hugely significant,” replied the detective.

He agreed there was concern that this knife had not been found and that this sketch map showed where it was.

Michael Fenlon of Active Hunting Ireland then testified that Mr Dwyer ordered a knife from his Gorey-based business on August 17, 2012.

He identified the invoice showing that Mr Dwyer ordered a Buck Special 119, costing €100, including shipping. The billing address was Mr Dwyer’s Foxrock home and the shipping address was his workplace. Mr Fenlon identified the knife from a photograph shown on screen.

From the comments section of the order form, Mr Fenlon read the words: “Please mark package private and confidential, Graham.” He said such notes come from the customer.

He also identified the delivery docket, which showed it was delivered to A&D Wejchert at 11.20am on August 21, 2012.

Also testifying was Garda Chris Boylan, who found a shovel in a wooded area near where Ms O’Hara’s remains were discovered in September 2013.

While cross-examining him, Mr Farrell asked that a garda photograph taken of a spade in his client’s back garden be shown on screen. He also asked the garda to identify the spade he found in the woods, which was then brought to him in the witness box.

Mr Farrell asked him to compare certain characteristics of the two spades.

“I think you’d agree, it’s virtually identical in terms of its make,” suggested the barrister. “It looks quite similar,” replied the garda.

The jury also heard from Christoff Hylinski, who runs a tattoo studio in Dublin, Hydraulix Tattoos. He was asked about an email his company sent in April 2011 to [e-mail].

He confirmed that the text of this email included: “We have separate areas in our studio for jobs like this.”

He explained this: “It was a job in a more private area of the body.”

The trial continues.