Cavan murder trial hears evidence of firearms residue
The trial of a Cavan man accused of murder has heard that firearm residue was found on clothing similar to that allegedly worn by the accused on the morning of the fatal shooting.
Trevor McCabe (aged 35), Mountpleasant, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Darren McGrath (aged 33) in Belturbet, Co. Cavan on May 20, 2008.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr McCabe shot Mr McGrath twice in the head as he slept.
Dr Thomas Hannigan of the Forensic Science Laboratory, told the Central Criminal Court he examined various items of clothing for firearms residue.
Dr Hannigan said he found firearms residue between the legs of a pair of green camouflage combat trousers and on a navy and white Adidas jacket.
He also found smaller traces of firearms residue on a green tracksuit top and a striped jumper.
Previously, Det Gda Paul Cullen had told the court a man recorded on CCTV at the Lakeside Filling Station, Enniskillen, Co. Tyrone was Trevor McCabe.
The man was recorded getting out of a black Honda Civic car wearing a dark jacket and dark green combat trousers.
During cross-examination, Dr Hannigan agreed with Peter Finlay SC that as all the items of clothing had been packed in the same bag firearms residue could have been transferred between the various items.
However, when re-examined by Anthony Sammon SC, prosecuting, Dr Hannigan said the combat trousers were the most likely source of the residue given they contained the greatest concentration of firearm particles.
He said; "The greatest concentration of particles is clearly on the combat trousers between the legs. Based on the number of particles present it seems to me to be the combat trousers would be the likely source."
Dr Michael Burrington, a DNA profiler with the Forensic Science Laboratory, told the court DNA from a blood stain found on the inside of the green combat trousers matched the DNA profile of the accused.
Dr Burrington said; "I would conclude Mr McCabe’s blood came into contact with those trousers sometime since they were last washed."
The court were told blood drops found on the hood of a dark navy Adidas jacket matched the DNA profile of the deceased.
DNA from two earlier witnesses in the case, Liam McCaul and Patrick McKiernan, were also found on the Adidas jacket.
Gda Michael O’Dell, was the first to respond to the 999 call made by the deceased’s neighbour, Darren Murphy about the shooting.
He told the court he found the deceased upstairs lying in bed with the quilt pulled up to his neck.
He said: "He was lying face up on the bed, he was extremely pale with a large mark over his left ear and another mark on his neck on the left side."
Retired, Det Gda John O’Connor, formerly of the National Bureau of Criminal investigation told prosecuting counsel he arrested the accused on Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin on the night of May 27, 2008.
Mr O’Connor told the court he formerly arrested Mr McCabe on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm with the intention to endanger life in relation to the events in Belturbet on May 20, 2008.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Barry White and jury of eight women and four men.
