Courts / Kildare / Report

Blood stains on murder accused's footwear matched DNA of deceased

Date
2016-01-14

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Athy

County
Kildare

Summary

In a 2016 murder trial, forensic evidence showed that blood stains on a pair of runners owned by Seamus Morgan (49) matched the DNA profile of the deceased, Laurence Keane (56). The DNA match was derived from stains on the toe and tongue areas of the runners, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that the profile came from anyone other than Keane. Morgan was charged with Keane's murder on 19 July 2013, pleaded not guilty, and was re‑arrested on 23 April 2014 after new evidence emerged. The prosecution presented witness statements from Keane's niece and others who observed Morgan and Keane together in the days before the murder. The trial was ongoing, with the judge scheduled to address the jury the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Blood stains on murder accused's footwear matched DNA of deceased. Charges or matters: murdering Laurence Keane (56) in the town on July 19, 2013; murdering Mr Keane. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 19, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
July 19 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
July 25 Incident
April 23 2014 Incident
July 20 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
July 18 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2016-01-14 Publication

Case subjects

Seamus Morgan

Accused

Charges: murdering Laurence Keane (56) in the town on July 19, 2013; murdering Mr Keane (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Det Sgt Boland agreed with Mr O'Connell that the accused "denied killing Laurence Keane." Det Sgt Boland also agreed with counsel that "Mr Morgan said things about his relationship with Mr Keane and he said when he left him in the lane-way, he was still alive." The witness also agreed with defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane SC, that in the course of Mr Morgan's detention he told gardai "his differences with Mr Keane had been settled, he left Larry Keane at the top of the hill, Larry Keane had problems getting up the hill, there was no scuffle.