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Spade found near Elaine O'Hara's remains was "spade from our garden", Gemma Dwyer tells her husband's murder trial

Summary

During the 25th day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial, his wife Gemma Dwyer testified that the spade found near Elaine O'Hara's remains was the same spade she had noticed missing from their garden. She described how the spade had been used to clear a neighbour's dog's droppings and had been absent during the summer of 2013, after which she had used a plastic spade. Dwyer also recalled receiving a letter from her husband in which he referred to Ms O'Hara as "that awful girl." She provided details of their life together, including their children, their home in Foxrock, and her husband's interests in model aeroplanes, cars, and computers. The court heard that the spade was a True Temper Homeowner model, forged in Cork before 2009, and that the Gardaí had not taken the spade to the search. The trial continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Spade found near Elaine O'Hara's remains was "spade from our garden", Gemma Dwyer tells her husband's murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Ms O'Hara at Killakee, Rathfarnham on 22nd August 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental health hospital; murdering the 36-year-old childcare worker on that date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 22nd August 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• Wednesday, 22nd August 2012 Other
• September 2013 Other
• 17th August 2012 Other
• March 5th 2011 Other
• 28th February Other
• February 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 11th Other
• August 22nd Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-02-25 Publication

Why: She explained that he ordered lots of items relating to model aeroplanes from the internet and would have them delivered to their home. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report