Irish man denies murdering his mother in Edinburgh

An Irish man accused of beheading and dismembering his mother before disposing of her body in a woodland area has gone on trial in Scotland.

James Dunleavy (40), also known as Séamus, has denied killing Philomena Dunleavy (66), Marino, Dublin, between April 30th and May 7th last year. He is accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by trying to cover up the alleged crime and destroy evidence, a charge he also denies.

It is alleged Mr Dunleavy inflicted blunt force trauma to his mother at his flat in Edinburgh’s Balgreen Road, before cutting off her head and legs. The trial will hear allegations that he placed her body in a suitcase before taking her to a nature reserve where he buried her.

He is also accused of later pretending his mother had been unwell and had returned to Ireland.

Aaron McLean-Foreman, a 24-year-old ski instructor who had been cycling in the area, told the hearing that while resting he came across a human skull and teeth and alerted authorities.

The trial at the high court in Edinburgh is expected to last up to four weeks.