The jury in the trial of a Sligo man accused of murdering 14-year-old Melissa Mahon has heard that a picture of the accused was found under her pillow at the care home she had been placed in.
Fiona Keogh, a social care worker at Lis na nOg residential care home, told the Central Criminal Court that during the second week of Melissa’s placement in September 2006 she was making the girl’s bed and found a picture of Ronnie Dunbar under the pillow.
Mr Dunbar (44) also known as Ronald McManus, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Melissa on a date unknown between September 14th
and September 30th 2006. He also denies threatening to kill one of his own daughters during that period.
Ms Keogh told Isobel Kennedy SC, prosecuting, that she knew the accused to see as he had collected Melissa from the home on occasion and she had also seen him with the girl when she was off duty in the town.
She said the picture of Mr Dunbar was a circular cut out from a photograph and written on the back were the words ‘best (or good) wishes “McManus“‘.
Ms Keogh said she placed the photograph on Melissa’s bedside locker and intended to discuss it with her but did not get an opportunity to do so before she disappeared. Ms Keogh informed the acting manager of the home and Melissa’s social worker.
Sergeant Tom Colsh told the court he was directed to go to Mr Dunbar’s original address on September 15th, the day after Melissa went missing. He said the house was unoccupied and that a man appeared from the next house asking if everything was alright.
Sgt Colsh said he asked this man if he knew where the occupier of the house was and he replied that he had not seen him in a long time. Sgt Colsh said the accused said his name was Ronald McManus. Another patrol car arrived and informed Sgt Colsh that he was actually talking to Mr Dunbar.
Mr Dunbar then agreed that he had recently moved out of the house Sgt Colsh was attempting to get into and invited Sgt Colsh to search his new address. He said he had not seen Melissa Mahon since the last time she had gone missing and told Sgt Colsh that he had been assisting the Health Board in relation to her.
Sgt Colsh said that he searched Mr Dunbar’s new address and found only his two daughters present there.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of six men and six women. It is expected to last for another four weeks.