Samples 'remained in Garda lockers for 17 years'

Blood and semen samples that the DPP alleges link former army sergeant John Crerar to the murder of Kildare woman, Phyllis Murphy, remained in Garda lockers for 17 years, a jury has heard.

In the Central Criminal Court, John Crerar, aged 54, a father-of-five, of Woodside Park, Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philomena Murphy, aged 23, known as Phyllis, on a date unknown between 22 December 1979 and January 18th 1980, within the state.

The trial resumed before the jury today after over four days of legal argument.

Mr Justice McKechnie told the jurors that "certain matters" had to be dealt with and "certain rulings have been made."

Ms Murphy's naked body was found at the edge of a spruce forest at Ballinagee, close to the Turlough Hill power station near the Wicklow Gap.

Today, the jury heard from Dr Derek Baynes, who took a blood sample from John Crerar on March 6th 1980.

The jury also heard that semen samples taken from the person of Ms Murphy were retained by retired sergeant Christy Sheridan in his locker for eight years and then passed on to Det Garda Finbar McPaul, who held them in another locker for a further nine years.

The samples were removed for reanalysis in 1997 when the case was reopened.

The prosecution alleges that the re-examination of the blood and semen samples taken at the time of the killing "points" to Mr Crerar's guilt. Mr Crerar's lawyers are contesting the allegation.