Victim died due to multiple stab wounds

The Mahon murder trial in Cork was told today that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds.

John Brett (aged 25) of 26A Leitrim Street, Cork, and Jason Quinlan (aged 29) of 11 Loughmahon Drive, Mahon, Cork, both deny murdering Brian McKee, 24, at Ballinure Avenue, Mahon, Cork, on August 25, 2007, at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

Dr Michael Curtis, deputy state pathologist, concluded that the cause of Mr McKee’s death was multiple stab wounds and that he had cocaine and two and a half times the legal alcohol limit for driving in his blood.

Dr Curtin said that a knife blade and a larger knife with broken handle and bent blade – both found in the area afterwards - could have caused the injuries but that a cluster of injuries in a small area around the chest were caused by glass and that a shard of brown glass was found in one of the deceased’s wounds.

Prosecution witness Ray Keating, a friend of the late Brian McKee, stated: “I saw the two of them punching Brian, more like jabs. I felt like they were giving Brian a good going over.”

Describing the altercation between Brian McKee and his former girlfriend, Ciara Delaney, Mr Keating said that Jason Quinlan arrived with his girlfriend, Rebecca Delaney, and became involved.

Mr Keating said that he asked Quinlan at that stage to leave Brian alone as he was drunk and would not be able for him. He said Quinlan did walk away at that stage.

Quinlan’s senior counsel, Patrick McCarthy, put it to Mr Keating that he was worried about what Brian McKee would do because he was out of control. He replied that his worry was for what would happen to Brian. “He was in fear for his life, he was trying to get home,” Mr Keating said.

Mr McCarthy said that Jason Quinlan broke his wrist that night and suggested it was from a fall. He asked for Mr Keating’s opinion on how Quinlan came to break his wrist. Mr Keating replied, “Probably sticking the knife in too far.”

Describing the incident where the late Mr McKee was running and fell at about 4.30am, Mr Keating said: “He was running for his life. The two of them stood over him. They started stabbing him.”

The trial goes into its fourth day tomorrow.