Courts / Dublin / Report

Blunt force injuries caused prisoner's brain to rotate, pathologist tells murder trial

Date
2024-11-21

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Mountjoy

County
Dublin

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the death of Robert O'Connor, a Mountjoy prisoner, was caused by blunt‑force trauma that rotated his brain. She explained that the injuries could have resulted from punching, kicking or stamping, and that the resulting brain swelling, bleeding and lack of oxygen led to death. Dr Mulligan noted that O'Connor had suffered a first assault on 27 July with a bleeding nose and a fractured right pupil, and a second assault two days later that left him in a coma. He remained unresponsive for three days, was declared dead at 1.34 pm on 1 August, and his kidneys were donated. The pathologist confirmed no skull fractures and that the brain trauma was most likely sustained during the second alleged assault. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury hearing further evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Blunt force injuries caused prisoner's brain to rotate, pathologist tells murder trial. Charges or matters: the murder of Robert O'Connor on the 29th of July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 2022 Other
July 27 Incident
2024-11-21 Publication

Why: The jury are to hear that during the course of his garda interviews, Mr Dunne told officers he had invited Mr O'Connor into his cell because he wanted to speak to him about an earlier assault the deceased had suffered two days earlier. CNI source report