Courts / Dublin / Report

Cross-examination of last witness in Mark Nash trial

Date
2015-03-30

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, prosecutors cross‑examined Dr Philip Avenell, a forensic scientist, as the last witness in the trial of Mark Nash, a 42‑year‑old defendant. Nash, who lives on Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields, 60, and Mary Callanan, 61, which occurred between 6 and 7 March 1997. The victims were residents of a sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman. Dr Avenell, who has worked on high‑profile cases such as the Stephen Lawrence murder and the Coastal Path murders, had previously testified that contamination became a concern when two examinations were conducted in room 3.6 of Forensic Science Ireland. He explained that a jacket belonging to Nash and heavily blood‑stained clothing and bedding found at the scene were examined in the same laboratory room six weeks apart.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cross-examination of last witness in Mark Nash trial. Charges or matters: the murder of Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6 and March 7, 1997. Procedural stage: trial

When: