DNA on knife in accused’s car fits dead woman’s

DNA on a knife found in the car of a retired member of the defence forces matched that of a prostitute he is accused of murdering in Co Westmeath four years ago, a jury has heard.

Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, of Millbrook Avenue, Monksland, Athlone has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Marie Greene, 37, in Westmeath on February 13, 2011.

The court has heard that Ms Greene, who was working as a prostitute, was last seen alive on the evening of February 13 and her body was found in a bog near Ballykieran outside Athlone nine days later.

Taking to the stand, Detective Garda Lynn Johnson told Alex Owens SC, prosecuting, that she recovered a number of items on February 22 from the area.

“I travelled into the area of bogland and recovered a number of items of clothing,” said Det Gda Johnson. “I recovered a social services card with the name Marie Greene, a prayer, a set of keys, some cream, a rosary bracelet, a dog tag, loose change, and a holy medal.”

The court heard that, at 7.55am on February 21, 2011, Detective Sergeant Eamon Curley arrested the accused at his home.

Mr Devaney’s phone was taken from him and a number of items, including a blood-stained shirt, were recovered from his house.

Following an XRY examination on Mr Devaney’s phone, Sergeant Christopher Brown told Mr Owens that contact had been recorded on 60 occasions between the phone number of the accused and that of Ms Greene in the weeks leading up to her death.

“The first call recorded was on January 4th, 2011,” he said.

“There were 60 different contacts recorded between the phone number of Jimmy Devaney and Marie Greene between January 1st and February 13th 2011.”

In a statement read to the court by Mr Owens, forensic scientist John Hoade said that, on February 25, 2011, he received a knife with a green handle which had been located under the boot cover of Mr Devaney’s car.

Following an examination of the knife, there was found to be blood staining that was female in origin.

Upon further examination, the DNA matched Marie Greene’s profile and is one in a thousand million times likely to be that of someone else.

Earlier that day, State pathologist Marie Cassidy was giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court.

“I attended the scene on the 22nd of February 2011 at 1pm at an area of bog outside Athlone,” said Prof Cassidy. “There were three items of clothing on the ground and part of a human arm was exposed.

“I commenced an external examination of the body. There was a cluster of six stab wounds over the left breast and a collar bone stab wound which penetrated the aorta.”

Prof Cassidy said haemorrhaging into the tissue along the tracks of the stab wounds indicated the bleeding was internal and the person was still alive at time these were inflicted.

Under cross-examination by Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha, Prof Cassidy confirmed that some of the stab wounds could have been part of a continuous attack that continued after death.

The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of six women and six men this afternoon.