No DNA match to James Connors on knife or baton, trial hears

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

The Central Criminal Court heard DNA evidence in James Connors’s murder trial on 9 December 2015. The proceedings were reported on 10 December 2015.

James Connors, aged 29, of Rosemount, Drinagh, Co Wexford, has pleaded not guilty to murder. He is charged with murdering Jason Ryan, aged 27, at Hollyville Heights in Wexford Town on 25 January 2012.

Stephen Clifford, a DNA expert at the State Forensic Science Laboratory, told Gerard Clarke, prosecuting, that he examined a knife and a baton found at the scene. The knife, allegedly used in the killing, contained DNA matching Jason Ryan’s. Two other samples did not match James Connors’s DNA.

Speaking to Michael Delaney, defending, Dr Clifford agreed that the longer someone holds an item, the more likely they are to transfer their DNA to it. Blood samples from the baton’s handle and middle matched Jason Ryan’s DNA. Dr Clifford agreed with Mr Delaney that the blood could have come from Mr Ryan’s hands after he touched his wounds. Two other DNA profiles on the baton were incomplete, so Dr Clifford could not determine whom they belonged to. None of the DNA found on the baton matched James Connors’s DNA.

Justice Margaret Heneghan told the jury that no more evidence would be given in the trial. The prosecution was due to begin its summary on 10 December 2015.