Courts / Dublin / Report

Bloodied glove found near shallow grave matches murder accused's DNA, trial hears

Date
2021-11-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A blood‑stained glove found near the skeletonised remains of Philip Finnegan in Rahin Woods matched DNA from Stephen Penrose, a forensic scientist who is on trial for Finnegan's murder. The glove, heavily charred and bearing blood on five internal sites, was recovered by Gardaí on 8 September 2016 and later analysed by Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland. McGee compared the glove's DNA with a buccal swab taken from Penrose on 16 November 2016 and reported a match, estimating the probability of a different source as less than one in a billion. Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 24‑year‑old, who was found buried in a shallow grave after being missing for just over three weeks.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bloodied glove found near shallow grave matches murder accused's DNA, trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering Philip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
August 10, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
September 8 Other
November 16, 2016 Incident
August 10 Incident
September 4 Hearing Or Sentence
September 3 Incident
August 31 Incident
September 2 Incident
November 17 Incident
November 16 Other
2021-11-05 Publication

Why: Earlier, Garda Damien Anderson said he took a buccal swab from Mr Penrose on November 16, 2016 for the purpose of DNA testing in order to prove or disprove the accused's involvement in the murder of Mr Finnegan. CNI source report

Case subjects

Stephen Penrose

Accused

Charges: murdering Philip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Mr Penrose was released from his detention after the tenth and final interview took place on September 2, when Mr Finnegan was still considered a missing person, the court heard.