Accused was ‘very nervous’, garda testifies

DETECTIVE Garda Gerry Whelan said that when he and Detective Garda Kevin Nolan went to meet John O’Brien on October 2 after his wife had been reported missing, the accused was “very nervous”.

“He was sweating a lot. He kept trying to wet his lips with his tongue but his mouth was too dry.”

They had met Mr O’Brien on his route and on the journey to his house O’Brien continued to be anxious and nervous. He told gardaí he did not know where his wife was but that she had gone off before and stayed in Jury’s Hotel for the night before returning home.

Det Gda Whelan said when they arrived at the house he and his colleague had a look around. There was a bin outside the back door. Beside it was a piece of rolled-up carpet. There was also a garden shed, which appeared locked. O’Brien produced a large bunch of keys but his hand was shaking so much he couldn’t get the key into the lock. When he finally succeeded he couldn’t get the key open so he “got a bit aggressive” to get it to open.

Det Gda Whelan said he noticed there was wet clothing on the washing line. He went back inside to the utility room and was standing by the washing machine.

“John became very anxious as I was standing there, said Det Gda Whelan. I got the impression he didn’t want me standing there.”

Next-door neighbour Ann Geraghty had earlier told the court she noticed there was laundry hung on the washing line; a pair of chinos and several men’s shirts.

O’Brien agreed to give gardaí a formal statement.

He told them he and his wife had arranged to go out on the Saturday and Meg told him that her friend Eoin O’Regan was coming to the house.

He said that he went upstairs to get ready. When he came back down Meg and Mr O’Regan were drinking champagne together in the kitchen. The three were drinking together for about 15 minutes before walking to the Woodlands Hotel.

There they met up with the usual crowd and stayed until about 3.30am. He said Meg suggested that Owen Walsh come back with them.

O’Brien said they finished drinking at about 5am and Meg suggested Mr Walsh stay the night. He said he went back downstairs to turn out the lights and when he came back up, the door to the spare room was closed.

“Meg and Owen had their arms around each other kissing. I said what the f**k is going on? .”

O’Brien said he ordered Mr Walsh out of the house. The couple slept in separate bedrooms that night.

O’Brien said the next day he got up about 1pm. Meg was still asleep, so he went out in the car and came home at about 5pm. Meg was watching television. He said he asked her again why she had kissed Mr Walsh. “She told me I drove her to it.”

Det Gda Nolan said that O’Brien did not once ask how the investigation was going or if gardaí had spoken to his wife. He also offered no help whatsoever to gardaí throughout the investigation.