Courts / Dublin / Report
"Spectacular breakthrough" led to DNA discovery, Grangegorman murders trial hears
Summary
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard that DNA evidence from two women found dead at sheltered accommodation in Grangegorman in 1997 was discovered on the jacket of Mark Nash, who stands accused of their murders. Nash, aged 42, with last addresses in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan, whose bodies were found between March 6 and 7, 1997. The prosecution outlined that a bloodstain on Nash's jacket could not be analysed as DNA in 1997, but a breakthrough in July 2009 established DNA from both women on the garment. The court heard Nash initially confessed to the Grangegorman murders whilst in custody on unrelated charges connected to deaths in Roscommon, but subsequently retracted his admissions. The prosecution argued the DNA evidence, independent of any confession, points to Nash's involvement. The trial continues before Justice Carroll Moran.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Spectacular breakthrough" led to DNA discovery, Grangegorman murders trial hears. Charges or matters: murder of Sylvia Shields; murder of Mary Callanan. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 6 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 7, 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 1997 Incident
- August 16 1997 Incident
- July 26 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 7 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-01-22 Publication
Why: These implements are believed to have originated from the kitchen of the house in Grangegorman, which is no longer in existence, in order to make way for the new DIT complex. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murder of Sylvia Shields; murder of Mary Callanan (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Prussia Street
- Clonliffe Road
- Dublin
- Orchard View
- Central Criminal Court
- St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy prison
- Roscommon
- Galway city
- Orchard View
- Dublin
- retention in Mill Street Garda station
- Mill Street
Topics
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