Elaine O’Hara murder trial heard psychiatric evidence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Graham Dwyer’s trial at the Central Criminal Court heard psychiatric evidence on 12 February 2015, its 16th day. He was charged with murdering Elaine O’Hara, a 36-year-old childcare worker, at Killakee, Rathfarnham, on 22 August 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. The proceedings were reported on 13 February 2015.

Psychiatrist Dr Matt Murphy told the jury that Ms O’Hara had experienced persistent, obsessional thoughts and fantasies from the age of 12. He said she phoned the hospital in July 2012 saying she felt depressed and was contemplating suicide, and he decided to admit her.

He said her mood improved during her four-week stay and she was planning to return to work. Asked whether there was any indication of suicidality when she was discharged on 22 August 2012, he replied: “No, none”.

Under defence cross-examination, Dr Murphy agreed that her 14 hospital admissions were more than average. He also agreed that, after her disappearance, he had told gardaí her final admission was “something of an emergency in that Elaine had suicidal thoughts”.

He confirmed that the immediate period after discharge was regarded as high risk. However, he said Ms O’Hara had immediate plans in place and he considered her immediate risk low.