Carrigaline murder trial hears previous attack may have made Matt O’Neill 'more vulnerable'

The trial also heard that a neurological examination of the deceased 'cannot say which part of the head was struck'

Dr Bolster was told that the late Matt O'Neill (pictured) was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was in a deep coma and a devastating brain injury was diagnosed with no possibility of recovery. Picture courtesy of rip.ie.

The 29-year-old Carrigaline man who was allegedly punched and kicked on the ground near his home at Christmas 2022 died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, but the possible contribution of an assault four days earlier was teased out in evidence at the murder trial on Thursday.

21-year-old Ricardo Hoey of 7 Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, County Cork, and 19-year-old Jordan Deasy of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, both pleaded not guilty to the single charge against them, namely that on December 28, 2022, at Glenwood estate, Carrigaline, County Cork, they did murder 29-year-old Matt O’Neill, contrary to common law.

Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster carried out an autopsy on January 9, 2023, and was notified that the circumstances were that gardaí were alerted to an alleged assault on December 28, 2022, at 5.46pm at Glenwood, Carrigaline. Matt O’Neill was treated at the scene by a doctor and paramedics for a suspected head injury and had a laceration to his forehead and to the back of his head and a cut to a finger on his right hand. 

Dr Bolster was told that Mr O’Neill was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was in a deep coma and a devastating brain injury was diagnosed with no possibility of recovery. After being on life support for several days he was pronounced dead at 11.08am on January 8, 2023.

Dr Bolster referred to an initial report she was given that it had been suspected that the injured party may have been struck with a bottle. Prosecution senior counsel Jane Hyland said the allegation in relation to a bottle no longer formed any part of the prosecution case. 

Ms Hyland also said in relation to a reference to alleged kicks that it was now only part of the State case that there was one alleged kick to the head.

Dr Bolster said there was no skull fracture and that the fatal injuries resulted from blunt force trauma to the head, “which can be due to blows to the head and face or to a fall.” 

The pathologist also said: 

The blunt force trauma was consistent with a combination of blows and a fall.

Defence senior counsel, Tom Creed, asked the pathologist about the assault on the deceased four days before the incident at the centre of the murder trial.

Dr Bolster said: “With respect to the initial assault he was conscious and made no complaint after this. He never lost consciousness (after the December 24 assault).” 

The witness did say that the December 24 assault could have resulted in a minor subdural haemorrhage which would have made him more vulnerable to the second assault on December 28 but that there was no evidence of significant head trauma from December 24. 

Dr Bolster said: “He was still walking around four days later. He appeared to be acting normally — no complaint of headache or vomiting.

“The second assault (on December 28) is why he died at this time. I fully accept (the December 24 assault) may have made him more vulnerable.” 

Neurological evidence

Dr Michael Jansen carried out a neurological examination of the deceased. 

Mr Creed put it to this witness: “We cannot say which part of the head was struck — front of the head, back of the head, side of the head?” Dr Jansen replied: “In my opinion, no.” 

The trial before Ms Justice Lankford and the jury of six women and six men at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork continues.