Mother died from severe head injuries, court hears
A 54-year-old mother-of-two died from severe head injuries caused by multiple blows with a blunt object, a murder trial jury heard at the Central Criminal Court today.
State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy told the jury of ten men and two women that Mary ‘Mamie’ Walsh sustained nine separate injuries from a thin, heavy weapon about one inch in diameter similar in shape to a poker.
It is the second day of the trial of Scottish man Samuel Jennings (aged 61) previously of Ashtown, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford who has denied the murder of Mrs Walsh of Leamybrien, Co Waterford on a date unknown between August 30 and September 1, 2004. .
Mamie Walsh’s fully clothed body was found in the boot of her car on August 31, 2004. She had severe head injuries and was found covered in a bloodstained sheet with a rope loosely tied around her neck.
Dr Cassidy told the jury that the cause of death was blunt trauma damage causing fractures to the skull and bruising and bleeding to the brain. The rope had been tightened at some point during the attack contributing to the death.
Mr Jim Hogan of Providence Personal Credit Ltd. Where Mrs Walsh worked as an agent told the court that concern was raised when she failed to lodge money on August 30, 2004. As part of her job Mamie Walsh collected money from people who had taken out personal loans. According to her records for that week, she had been due to lodge over €4,600.
Mr Hogan told the court that Samuel Jennings had worked for Providence Personal Credit Ltd. Between June and July 2004 and had also taken out loans with the company.
Ms Paula Walsh, the daughter of the deceased, told the jury that Mrs Walsh had told her she had a meeting with Samuel Jennings before she went to the bank on August 30. A car similar to her blue Hyundai coupe was seen by Mr Oliver Dea, a neighbour of Jennings, parked inside the gate of the Jennings house later that morning.
The victim’s husband, Mr Paddy Walsh, was cross examined by defence counsel Mr David Kennedy SC about marital difficulties between him and Mrs Walsh in the late 1990s.
Reading from notes made by her GP, Mr Kennedy described an incident in 1999 in which Mrs Walsh had sustained injuries after being knocked down by her husband onto a concrete path outside the house. He said that in November 1999 Mrs Walsh was granted a protection order against Paddy Walsh.
Mr Walsh denied harming his wife but acknowledged their marriage had been in trouble at the time. He said: “Problems take a lot of time but we resolved it through marriage counselling and several other people helped which I am glad to say.“
He said at the time of her death, his relationship with his wife was strong.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Barry White and the jury.
