Murder trial hears Gerard Donnelly died before body was burned

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

Gerard Donnelly died from catastrophic injuries to his head before his body was burned in Dublin's Phoenix Park, a murder trial heard.

Ciaran Moran denies murdering Gerard Donnelly in November 2013. The proceedings were reported on 6 May 2015. The report described Ciaran Moran as aged 29, with an address at Camden Street.

Garda Peter Murtagh said he initially mistook Gerard Donnelly's burning body for a mannequin. He and a colleague were patrolling after midnight on 29 November 2013 when they noticed a small fire inside an enclosed wooded area near the Wellington monument.

State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy performed the post-mortem examination. She said the head injuries suggested repeated strikes with a relatively heavy object, possibly a lump hammer found at the scene. She said Gerard Donnelly had died before his body was ignited and before a toe was removed.

The prosecution alleged that Ciaran Moran killed Gerard Donnelly knowing he had money. Its case was that Gerard Donnelly was homeless but held €140,000 in an EBS account.