A MOTHER of six was carried into her home slung over her boyfriend's shoulder in the early hours of an October morning and died in hospital on the evening of that same day. A doctor, who was earlier called to her home, found her in an "appalling condition with injuries to all parts of her body, a murder trial heard yesterday.
Ms Mary Doogue was pronounced dead in hospital at about 7 p.m. on October 20th, 1995 after she was taken there from her home on the orders of a doctor, who was called by her boyfriend, Mr Stephen Davis, Mr Kenneth Mills SC, prosecuting, said.
Ms Doogue had been in bed all day having been taken home by Mr Davis at about 3 a.m., counsel said. Mr Davis had asked one of her children to get a doctor at about 4 p.m. that day and Ms Doogue was taken in an ambulance to Naas general hospital, Mr Mills said. On the way she suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.
He said the State Pathologist had found she died from delayed shock due to a subdural haemorrhage, contusion of the larynx, dislocation of the right shoulder and rupture of the urinary bladder.
It was the State's case that those injuries were inflicted by Mr Davis who was also the father of her youngest child. The evidence would show that Mr Davis delivered "great violence" to Ms Doogue, counsel said. It was "chastisement to an extraordinarily unacceptable degree".
Mr Mills was opening the trial of Mr Davis (20), of Clonmullin, Athy, Co Kildare, who has denied the murder of Ms Doogue (30), of the same address in Athy on October 20th 1995.
In his address, Mr Mills told the jury of 11 men and one woman that it was "a very harrowing case". He said Mary Doogue was unmarried and had six children. The youngest three lived with her and Stephen Davis in Clonmullin while the eldest three lived with her mother. Her youngest child, Stephanie, was seven months old at the time of her mother's death. Mr Davis was Stephanie's father.
Ms Doogue and Mr Davis had been going out together for some two years in October 1995, counsel said.
He said Ms Doogue went drinking about noon on October 19th 1995 in a pub in Athy. She had her baby daughter with her and had later collected the two other children from school and took them back to the pub.
A babysitter had called to the pub later to collect money from Ms Doogue and had been asked to mind the children.
Ms Doogue had hitched a lift to Carlow town and had more drink there before returning to her home in Athy that night. Mr Mills said she was quite drunk. She had torn her trousers. She had changed her clothes and went out again, saying she was going to look for Mr Davis. She went into a bar in Athy until after midnight.
He said Mr Davis had returned from work at about 7 p.m., went looking for Ms Doogue and later went drinking himself.
Mr Mills said the couple had met at about midnight or afterwards. He said they were seen having an argument and Mr Davis was seen twisting Ms Doogue's arm behind her back, kicking and punching her.
He said gardai had intervened and told the couple to go home.
They were seen going in the direction of Clonmullin still arguing.
Mr Davis was seen going into church grounds by gardai, counsel said. He said the babysitter was at Ms Doogue's home in Clonmullin when Mr Davis came in about 3a.m. with Ms Doogue slung over his shoulder "like a fireman". They went upstairs into a bedroom.
Mr Mills said Mr Davis and Ms Doogue were in bed overnight and Ms Doogue may have been invited to get medical attention but it appeared she declined.
At about 4 p.m. Mr Davis had sent the oldest child to get a doctor, counsel said. A doctor came and saw the "appalling condition" of Ms Doogue.
Several witnesses told the court Ms Doogue had been drinking in a number of bars in Athy and Carlow town from around midday on October 19th.
Ms Sine ad Delaney said she was in Tully's bar in Carlow town at about 8.15 p.m. on October 19th and saw a woman there who told her she was Mary Doogue.
Ms Delaney said she left with the woman to go to the Scragg's Alley pub at about 9.10 pm. When they got to the pub, she went into the toilet and when she came out the woman had gone. She said the woman was drunk.
Ms Mary Kelly said she gave a woman a lift just outside Carlow town between 10.20 and 10.30 pm. on October 19th 1995. There was a strong smell of drink from her and she had torn her trousers.
Ms Kelly said the woman said she was worried about going home to the man she was living with. Ms Kelly said the gardai had shown her a photograph and she had identified the woman to whom she had given the lift.
Ms Veronica Mitchell said she was babysitting for Ms Doogue on October 19th, 1995 when Mr Davis came in from work. He came back later, changed and left for the second time. She said Ms Doogue came back home at about 10.50 p.m. and was fairly drunk. She had changed and left the house again, saying she was going to look for Mr Davis.
The witness said Mr Davis came in at about 3 a.m. He had Ms Doogue over his shoulder and was carrying her "like a fireman". Ms Mitchell said she could not see Ms Doogue because there was no electricity in the house. They went upstairs, she said.
Cross examined by Mr Roderick O'Hanlon BL, defending, Ms Mitchell said Mr Davis did not appear to be irritated when he left the house about 7 p.m. on October 19th but appeared a bit angry on his return.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Budd.