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'Nothing short of murder': Nadine Lott suffered 'appalling' injuries, prosecution tell jury

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court trial, Daniel Murtagh, 34, faced murder charges for killing his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, 30, in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Prosecution barrister John O'Kelly SC argued that Lott suffered "the most appalling and dreadful blunt trauma injuries" to her face, with flesh separated from underlying structures, and that the assault was sustained, violent and fueled by anger, drink and drugs. He highlighted eyewitness testimony, a neighbour's account, and pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan's evidence of 64 injuries, including fractured jaws, severe brain injury and a stabbing above the Adam's apple. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Murtagh's intent was unclear, citing intoxication and a claim that the violence would not have occurred without alcohol and drugs. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The jury heard that Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Nothing short of murder': Nadine Lott suffered 'appalling' injuries, prosecution tell jury. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old ex-partner Ms Lott at her apartment in St Mary's Court, Arklow, Co Wicklow on December 17, 2019. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• December 17, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 13 Incident
• Christmas Incident
• 2021-07-30 Publication

Why: He submitted that just because someone says something one is not obliged to accept that it is true and one can reject the evidence in whole or in part. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report