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Lisa Thompson Murder accused told gardai he'd been 'in and out' of house for years
Summary
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Brian McHugh, 40, denied murdering Lisa Thompson, 52, who was found stabbed 11 times in the chest with a blind cord wrapped around her neck. McHugh claimed he had been "in and out" of Thompson's Ballymun home for the last three years, a statement he repeated when asked to explain the presence of his DNA on the cord and on jewellery seized from his Cairn Court residence. Forensic evidence showed a mixed DNA profile on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor, and DNA from the jewellery matched Thompson's. The prosecution also presented evidence that Thompson had been dealing prescription drugs and that she and McHugh had a brief affair the year before her death. McHugh pleaded not guilty and the trial continues before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of four men and eight women.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lisa Thompson Murder accused told gardai he'd been 'in and out' of house for years. Charges or matters: murdering Ms Thompson (52) at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun in Dublin 11 on May 9, 2022; the murder of Ms Thompson on July 13, 2022. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- May 9, 2022 Incident
- July 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 11 Other
- May 9 2022 Other
- July 13, 2022 Other
- May 15, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-02-24 Publication
Why: A pathologist has also given evidence that Ms Thompson's death occurred because of a combination of ligature strangulation causing asphyxia and multiple stab wounds to the left side of the chest. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Ms Thompson (52) at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun in Dublin 11 on May 9, 2022; the murder of Ms Thompson on July 13, 2022 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Accused
Charges: murdering Ms Thompson (52) at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun in Dublin 11 on May 9, 2022; the murder of Ms Thompson on July 13, 2022 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- McHugh's interviews at Ballymun Garda Station
- Ballymun
- St Margaret's Road
Topics
Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime
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