Syringe and caustic soda found in house of murder accused, court hears

The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering 14-year-old Melissa Mahon has heard that a hypodermic syringe and a bottle marked 'caustic soda' were found in his house following his arrest.

The court had earlier heard from the accused man's youngest daughter that he had sent her a text message saying he was sick of life and would inject himself with caustic soda when the authorities came for him.

Ronald McManus (aged 44), also known as Ronnie Dunbar, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Melissa Mahon in September 2006. He also denies threatening to kill another daughter, Samantha Conroy.

On the 13th day of the trial, crime scene examiner, Detective Garda Tom Carey, told Sean Gillane BL, prosecuting, that he found the needle and bottle on a locker in a front upstairs bedroom in the accused man's house on April 10, 2008.

The court heard that Mr McManus was arrested and detained in Sligo garda station earlier that day in relation to the murder of the schoolgirl and that his house had been designated as a crime scene.

The court earlier heard that Melissa Mahon went missing from the care of the Health Service Executive on September 14, 2006. Her remains were found by gardaí on the shore of Lough Gill in February 2008 after Samantha Conroy directed them to a location.

Det Gda Carey said that a plastic bag was found on an armchair in the sitting room of the house on April 10 which contained newspaper clipping in relation to the disappearance of Melissa.

He also found a pair of dismantled binoculars in a cardboard box with a hole cut out on a window ledge in a front upstairs bedroom. An inflatable dinghy was found under a bed and the fabric from the bottom of another bed was torn from its frame.

The jury also heard from members of garda search teams who examined an area around the bank of the River Bonnet and shore of Lough Gill in February 2008.

Inspector Colm Nevin said that he met Samantha Conroy, her sister Shirley and their social worker on February 1, 2008 and went with them to the bank of the river Bonnet. He said: "Sam showed us where they threw the body into the river".

Garda Daniel Murphy told Mr Gillane that he was part of a dive team which searched the banks and beds of the river and lake. He said that on February 12 he found a lower jaw bone in one foot of water.

The court heard that teeth and human bones, including vertebrae, leg bones and parts of skull, were found along the shoreline of the lake on dates in February.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of six men and six women. It is expected to last for at least another week.