Murder victim 'was killed while he was asleep'

A Dublin man who was bludgeoned to death was possibly asleep at the time he was attacked, a garda ballistics expert has told a murder trial.

Detective Garda John Higgins, Garda Ballistics Section, was giving evidence in the trial of Dolores O'Neill for the murder of Declan O'Neill at their home at Coolamber Park, Knocklyon, Templeouge, Dublin on or about July 22 2002. The accused, a civil servant with the Equality Authority, denies the charge.

Questioned by Dominic McGinn BL in the Central Criminal Court today Detective Garda Higgins said the lack of defensive wounds and the position of the deceased’s hands by his side suggested either he was asleep or rendered unconscious at the time of the attack.

Detective Garda Higgins said: "It is my opinion he was asleep."

The witness added that the lack of any dynamic movement suggested that "the deceased pretty much lay where he was found during, or subsequent to, the attack".

The court has heard that Declan O’Neill’s blood-stained body was found on the bed partially wrapped in a duvet.

The detective garda also suggested that the attacker inflicted the fatal blows from above, or possibly from a straddling position.

He said the room was heavily blood-stained and there was blood spatters at an arc of 50 degrees on the wall above the headboard.

The court also heard that a black handled kitchen knife found under the pillow was heavily blood-stained on both the blade and the handle and a hammer found in the shower tray in the en suite also proved positive for blood staining.

Black slip-on shoes belonging to the accused woman matched Declan O’Neill’s blood type -present in 18% of the population - and was not compatible with Dolores O’Neill’s blood type, the court heard.

The trial continues.