Deaf man 'died from multiple fractures'

A profoundly deaf young man who was found dead in a isolated country boreen died from multiple skull fractures, a murder trial jury heard today.

Twenty-one year old John Carroll sustained a "jigsaw" of fractures which sent shards of bone into the brain, the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy told the Central Criminal Court.

One depressed fracture to the left side of the head measured six inches by four inches and the deceased also suffered six injuries to the upper left eye.

Dr Cassidy said Mr Carroll had also sustained injuries to the chest and groin.

William Roche (aged 23) a native of Limerick with an address at Millstream, Killaloe, Co Clare has denied the murder of Mr Carroll, Cappamore, Co Limerick on December 4, 1998 at Garraun, Ballinahinch, Newport, Co Tipperary.

The prosecution allege that Mr Carroll was brought in a semi-conscious condition by Mr Roche and two others to a remote laneway off the Dublin/Limerick road where his head was "bashed in" with the handle of a hatchet. He was left for dead and no assistance was called, it is alleged.

Det Garda John Higgins of the garda ballistics section who examined the scene of the murder, said he noticed that the sole of the deceased’s shoes were not as muddy as the sides.

This indicated that the deceased had either crawled to the spot where he was found dead or had been dragged.

"He could have crawled there but he did not walk on the soles of his feet," the witness told the jury.

He noted blood stains around the body and what appeared to be brain tissue. In his opinion, "the area where the deceased lay was where he suffered a number of blows to the head, including the fatal blow".

Det Garda Higgns said he had also examined a ratchet that had been found approximately eight kilometers further down the Dublin/Limerick road. The ratchet was a heavy-duty type generally used for tractors or JCBs.

The trial was adjourned for legal argument.