Murder trial hears forensic evidence

A jury hearing the trial of a man charged with murdering a Cavan woman has begun to hear forensic evidence from analysis of clothing from both the accused and the murdered woman.

Dr Clara Boland told the Central Criminal Court there were a number of stabbing cuts on clothing worn by the murdered woman Amy Farrell.

One, on the right leg of her tracksuit pants, was stretched 40cm long.

Brendan McGahern (aged 28) with an address at Corlismore in Co Cavan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Amy Farrell at Glenlara, Cavan, on January 20, 2006, but guilty to her manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility.

The Director of Public Prosecution, represented by Mr Alex Owens SC, has refused to accept his plea.

Dr Boland said a colleague who carried out DNA analysis would confirm blood found on clothing belonging to McGahern matched that of Amy Farrell.

Yesterday the jury of eight men and four women were shown Garda video interviews with McGahern.

Mr Justice Paul Carney warned the jury they were only seeing the videos to observe and assess the accused demeanour.

McGahern had contended he was labouring under a mental disorder at the time of the killing that diminished his responsibility for it.

In the first video, McGahern can be seen wearing a black jersey with his hands clasped in front of him occasionally taking sips from a cup as gardaí interview him about Miss Farrell’s death.

He states his date of birth and acknowledges he understands what is happening at the start of the interview and that he has been cautioned. He says he has been arrested for assault.

He then answers “no comment” to all the questions asked of him in relation to Amy Farrell’s death, half way through asking for a cigarette and a cup of milk.

He is asked whether his friend Brendan Kelly asked him to “do the job” on Miss Farrell.

The court has heard earlier Miss Farrell was acquainted with Kelly and McGahern and had given evidence against Kelly in the Virginia District Court the day before her killing.

McGahern had been present and Kelly, who had assaulted Miss Farrell and stolen two of her cars, had been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

“The reason you were at Glenlara was to sort out Amy Farrell in relation to what evidence she gave against Brendan Kelly,” McGahern is asked.

“No comment,” he replies.

At the completion of the Garda interview, McGahern refuses to sign the written copy of the interview saying he cannot write.

Gardaí ask McGahern to make a mark on the copy and he refuses.

Mr Justice Carney stopped the jury viewing the second interview part way through, telling them the questioning had become emotive and there was a danger, if it continued, they might feel the garda’s questions were evidence against the accused.

Mr Justice Carney said “no comment” answers given by the accused were evidence of nothing at all.

McGahern is represented by Mr David Kennedy SC.

The trial continues.