Jawbone and teeth found on lake shore belonged to murder victim

The jury in the trial of a Sligo man accused of murdering 14-year-old Melissa Mahon has heard that a jawbone and teeth found on the shore of a lake were belonged to the girl.

Mr Paul Keogh, a dentist, oral surgeon and forensic odontologist, told the Central Criminal Court that in his professional opinion the remains found in February 2008 at Lough Gill, Sligo, were those of Melissa Mahon.

Ronald McManus (aged 44), also known as Ronnie Dunbar, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering the schoolgirl in September 2006. He also denies threatening to kill one of his daughters, Samantha Conroy.

Mr Keogh told Isobel Kennedy SC, prosecuting, that he had access to Melissa's dental records in the UK, including an x-ray of her teeth and jaw. He said he compared those records to the remains and found no inconsistencies or contradictions.

He said Melissa's records indicated that she had received two fillings in molar teeth. Two such filled teeth were recovered at Lough Gill. Mr. Keogh was also able to compare two wisdom teeth in the lower jaw bone with a radiograph of Melissa's wisdom teeth and found they were "very similar".

He said that from looking at the wisdom teeth in the jaw bone he could say that it belonged to a teenager aged 14 to 17 years. Mr. Keogh was also able to say from an examination of the dental arch that all teeth were present in the jaw bone at the time of death.

Under cross examination by Brendan Grehan SC, defending, Mr. Keogh agreed that there were degrees of identification in such cases but said that there were "distinctive factors" in this case and: "In my opinion that's a high match. In this case I am definite."

On day 14 of the trial the jury also heard from a number of Garda witnesses who gave evidence in relation to the preservation of the scene at Lough Gill and the transportation of skeletal remains to the city morgue in Dublin in February 2008.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of six men and six women. It is expected to continue into next week.