18cm deep stab wound penetrated man’s lung

A man was stabbed four times, with the fatal blow being an 18cm deep stab wound to his left shoulder which penetrated his lung, a murder trial has heard.

Paula Farrell, aged 42, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her home on January 1, 2014.

Deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis yesterday told Gerard Clarke, prosecuting, he carried out an autopsy on the body of Mr McQuillan on January 1, 2014. Dr Curtis said there was four stab wounds to the deceased but it was the second stab wound, with a track depth of 18cm which severed the vein and penetrated the lung, which was the fatal blow.

Dr Curtis also examined two of the knives found at the scene. The bigger of the two knives was over 31cm in length with a blade of 20cm long. He said: “In my opinion stab two, three and four would have been caused by the bigger of the two knives.”

Dr Hilary Clarke, of the Forensic Science Lab, had been given a number of items of clothing belonging to Ms Farrell from the night. “The DNA profile of the blood staining on the chest area of the silver top and the front lower leg of the pyjama bottoms matched Wayne McQuillan’s,” she said.

The trial continues.