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Court reserves judgement in serial killer Nash's appeal
Summary
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement in the appeal of Mark Nash against his 2015 conviction for two murders in Grangegorman, Dublin, committed in March 1997. Nash, originally from England with Dublin addresses, was sentenced to life imprisonment following a jury verdict after a forty-eight-day trial. He was already serving life for murders committed in Ballintober, County Roscommon, in August 1997. The appeal centred on DNA evidence recovered from Nash's jacket during forensic examination and his admissions to gardaí. Defence counsel challenged the reliability of the DNA findings, citing potential contamination and procedural irregularities in the investigation, including delayed disclosure of evidence and the absence of a search warrant. The prosecution argued the case against Nash was compelling, citing the DNA evidence, his admissions, and forensic findings including matching boot prints. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved decision. The unnamed 44-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court reserves judgement in serial killer Nash's appeal. Charges or matters: the murder of Sylvia Sheils (59) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6 and March 7, 1997. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 6 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 7, 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 20, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 1998 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-12-20 Publication
Why: Opening an appeal against his conviction for the Grangegorman murders, Nash's lead senior counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, told the Court of Appeal that it was an "extraordinary and unusual case" because another man, the late Dean Lyons, had "confessed". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Sylvia Sheils (59) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6 and March 7, 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A Central Criminal Court jury found Nash unanimously guilty after deliberating for four hours following a 48-day trial and he was accordingly given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on April 20, 2015.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- High Court
- Prussia Street
- Clonliffe Road
Topics
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