Pathologist found 18 knife wounds on body of man found dead in Dublin apartment

A pathologist found 18 knife wounds to the head, neck and trunk of a man who was found dead at the bottom of the stairs in a Dublin apartment, a Central Criminal Court murder trial has heard.

Chief State pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan told prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC that one stab wound to the neck of Noel Thomas Whelan severed the carotid artery while another that entered through the front armpit penetrated his right lung. Both those wounds were potentially fatal while the pathologist noted a further nine stab wounds and seven incised wounds which caused a loss of blood and contributed to death. The cause of death, Dr Mulligan said, was multiple stab wounds with no other contributory factors.

Mark Whelan (48) of Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan, who was aged in his 20s, at an apartment at Castlecurragh Heath on March 30th, 2019.

In his opening speech in the case, Mr McGinn said the jury may be asked to consider returning verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity or of diminished responsibility because of evidence that the accused suffers from a mental disorder. The opening day of the trial heard that although the deceased and the accused were not related, they were known to each other as the deceased man was the partner of one of Mark Whelan’s daughters.

Evidence

Beginning her evidence Dr Mulligan said she arrived at the scene at 21:41, about two hours after Mr Whelan had been pronounced dead following the arrival of gardaí and emergency services. Dr Mulligan said the adult male’s body was immediately inside the front door at the bottom of a narrow staircase and surrounded by a large area of blood staining.

Dr Mulligan saw blood staining on the wall which appeared to be finger and hand prints. On the top landing there were further blood spots leading to the kitchen. In the kitchen sink Dr Mulligan saw two knives, both of which had significant blood staining.

Most of the wounds, she said, suggested that the weapon used was a knife with one sharp edge and one blunt edge. The bloodstained knives found in the kitchen sink of Mr Whelan’s home could have caused the injuries, she said. A toxicology test revealed the presence of cocaine in the deceased’s blood and urine but there was no evidence of alcohol.

The trial continues in front of Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of nine men and three women.