Witness tells Cork murder trial about seeing 'very agitated' man minutes before he died

Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster said it was 'unlikely' that the wound was self-inflicted

Conor Quinn died from haemorrhage and shock with a partially collapsed lung resulting from a single stab wound to the chest.

The Mallow murder trial was told of an elderly man’s extraordinary encounter with the deceased man only minutes before his death from a stab wound.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and the eight men and four women of the jury heard last week that the late Conor Quinn ran into the park in Mallow shortly before 8pm on July 12, 2018. On Monday, they heard evidence from Ted Tuohy and evangelist Emmanuel Adibisi who described their interaction with a young man that evening.

Mr Tuohy said he was in the park talking to his friend Emmanuel and Mr Adibisi’s friend, an evangelist bishop who was visiting from Germany.

“All of a sudden I heard a man shouting, ‘I am looking for a black man and a white man and I’m going to kill the white man’. I said to him, ‘I wouldn’t be talking about killing anyone’. Eventually, he pulled out something — a strap. And I said, ‘You’re not going to kill anyone with that’.

“He was very agitated. I couldn’t calm him down. I didn’t smell any alcohol from him. David (the visiting Bishop) took his hand and held it. He said, ‘Stop holding my hand’,” Mr Tuohy said. The young man told them his mother and father were dead. The men tried to calm the young man down but could not. 

Prosecution barrister Ray Boland asked the witness about the strap. Mr Tuohy said the young man waved it around. “I thought it was harmless,” he added. Mr Tuohy said the young man was angry but he (Mr Tuohy) did not know what caused this.

Defence senior counsel Brian McInerney suggested Conor Quinn's behaviour "was quite bizarre". Picture: Larry Cummins

Brian McInerney, defence senior counsel, cross-examined him and said the young man “did not seem to have much time for God or Jesus.” Mr Tuohy said the young man told them he liked all people and named 10 or 12 different nationalities he liked and said he had no problem with black people. “He kissed David on the left side of his forehead,” he said.

Mr McInerney suggested: “It was quite bizarre behaviour, out of control behaviour.” Mr Tuohy agreed but said: “I personally was not afraid of him.” Mr McInerney suggested it was an extraordinary appearance and the witness agreed. Mr Tuohy said: “I couldn’t see him killing anyone with the strap.” 

Emmanuel Adebisi said the young man had what he described as “black plastic, it was something you can extend or close.” He recalled the young man said that he was going to ‘fix’ the man he was looking for.

He was angry and said: “Where is God when my mother died of cancer and he said so many other things.” 

Mr McInerney SC said: “This was an angry young man.” Mr Adebisi said: “Of course, yes. I didn’t know why he was angry.” 

The defence senior counsel then suggested, “He was angry and dangerous?” The witness replied: “Dangerous? I wouldn’t say that.” 

Tyler Jackson of Ballydaheen West, Mallow, Co. Cork, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering 24-year-old Conor Quinn at Bridge Street, Mallow, County Cork, on July 12, 2018.

This morning's proceedings

Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, testified on Monday that the heart of the 24-year-old man was penetrated by a single stab wound which resulted in his death. Dr Bolster said the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock with partially collapsed lung resulting from a single stab wound to the chest.

The wound was inflicted laterally. In other words the knife entered from the side towards the centre and penetrated the heart, the pathologist said. The single wound was eight to 12 centimetres in depth and the fourth rib was fractured by the stabbing.

“The stab wound went into the ventricle chamber of the heart which pumps blood out into the aorta,” Dr Bolster said.

This resulted in the partial collapse of the left lung after the knife went through the chest. The fracture of the rib would have required at least a moderate degree of force, the pathologist said.

Prosecution barrister Ray Boland told the pathologist that last week during the trial there was a suggestion from the defence that in an altercation with one male the deceased perhaps stabbed himself.

Dr Bolster replied: “In my opinion that would be very unlikely… It would be a very unusual place to stab yourself and it would require at least a moderate degree of force.” 

Cross-examining, Brian McInerney, defence senior counsel, said one witness saw the deceased run across the road and colliding with the accused. He asked about that collision and if the deceased had a knife: “Might that amount to moderate force?” Again the pathologist said it was unlikely.

Mr McInerney continued: “But not impossible”. Dr Bolster replied: “Nothing in the world is impossible but very unlikely.” 

Forensic scientist, Dr Paula Allen, said the toxicology examination of the deceased showed 181 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of blood and 237 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of urine. Cocaine was also detected, along with bulking agents for that drug.

Prosecution and defence lawyers will make their closing speeches on October 10. The prosecution closed its case on Monday and the defence did not call any witnesses.