"If Mark Nash is not guilty, there are a series of truly amazing coincidences," prosecutor tells jury

At the Central Criminal Court, prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC delivered closing arguments in the trial of Mark Nash, accused of murdering two women in March 1997. Nash, with Dublin addresses, has pleaded not guilty to the killings of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan, who were living in sheltered accommodation at Grangegorman. Mr Grehan told the jury that if Nash were innocent, "a series of truly amazing coincidences" would have to be accepted. He outlined circumstantial and forensic evidence, including DNA profiles from both deceased women recovered on the right sleeve of Nash's jacket, a footprint in blood matching his caterpillar boots, and his own admissions made prior to garda questioning. Mr Grehan addressed defence suggestions of contamination and procedural impropriety, characterising these as "red herrings." He emphasised Nash's proximity to the crime scene and his detailed knowledge of events. The closing speech continued into the following day.