A PENSIONER was found dead in his home in Kilbeggan last year after he was tied up and beaten, having received “blows, punches and kicks” to the face and head, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
The court also heard that a man carrying a “bulk” of €50 notes bought a suit in Debenham’s in Dublin the day after the alleged murder.
Noel Cawley (47), of no fixed abode, but with a previous address in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Christy Hanley (83), at his home in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, on May 21st last year.
He has also pleaded not guilty to robbing Mr Hanley of an unknown sum of money at the same address on the same date.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Cawley tied Mr Hanley up, robbed him and beat him to death.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said that Mr Hanley “seemed to have been beaten about the head and face.” ‘‘This could have been caused by blows, punches and kicks,” and that Mr Hanley could have died from inhaling the blood.
“Somebody who is beaten and may be concussed is... at the risk of inhaling blood into the airways, rendering the person unable to breathe.”
Garda Enda Kenny told the court that he was working in Tullamore Garda station the day after the alleged murder. He received a phone call between 8.55am and 9am. The caller, a male, said that Christy Hanley was tied up in his house in Kilbeggan. The caller then hung up.
Michael Finnerty, investigations manager at Eircom, told the court that records show that a connection was made at 8.54am on May 22nd last year from a pay phone outside the Oval Bar on Abbey St in Dublin to Tullamore Garda station.
The trial continues.