Meg Walsh told gardaí of assault by husband

TWO weeks before she disappeared Meg Walsh told gardaí she had been assaulted by her husband, who is now on trial for her murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Sergeant Eric Gavigan told prosecuting counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley that Meg Walsh called in to Waterford Garda Station on September 22, 2006, and informed him that her husband had assaulted her two days before.

Bus driver John O’Brien, aged 41, with an address in Ballinakill Downs, Co Waterford, denies murdering the 35-year-old mother of one on a date between October 1, 2006, and October 15, 2006.

Garda Gavigan told Mr Buckley that Ms Walsh refused to take the matter further at that time. The jury had heard from Dr Bernadette O’Leary who said Ms Walsh came to her surgery on the 22nd with bruising and swelling to the backs of both hands and also to her right shoulder. Dr O’Leary said she advised her to go to the gardaí.

Mr Gerard O’Herlihy, a solicitor with Nolan, Farrell & Gough Solicitors, told Mr Buckley Ms Walsh came to see him on September 25, 2006. On her instruction he sent a letter to the accused alleging that he had assaulted her on September 20.

Three days later, on September 28, he sent a letter to the manager of Bank of Ireland, enclosing a form of authority to the title deeds of the house signed by both Ms Walsh and Mr O’Brien. This form was to transfer the house from joint ownership into Ms Walsh’s name only.

Mr Michael Lauhoff told Mr Buckley that he had known Meg Walsh through his dealings with Meadowcourt Homes, where she worked as office administrator, while he was a bank manager with Bank of Ireland in Waterford. He said he had moved branch in September 2006, but he received a call from Ms Walsh on the 26th. She asked him what would be required to transfer the title deeds of the house in Ballinakill Downs into her name. He sent her out the relevant forms and she rang him again on Friday, September 29, to say the forms had been filled in and were in the post. Mr Lauhoff said he subsequently received the forms, but by that time Ms Walsh had been reported missing.

The jury also heard that Ms Walsh had made similar arrangements in regard to life insurance. Ms Barbara Drohan told Mr Dominic McGinn, prosecuting, that she worked for the firm of accountants that handled Meadowcourt Homes’ accounts. She said she received a call from Ms Walsh on September 27 asking her for a statement of earnings.

The following day Ms Walsh rang again to ask if the document was ready. Ms Drohan said she typed it up that day and Ms Walsh came to the offices to collect it.