THE JURY in the trial of a man accused of murdering a girl in Sligo has heard her described by a social worker as very vulnerable and fragile.
Catherine Devaney told the Central Criminal Court that Melissa Mahon (14) was a small girl of slight build and unkempt appearance. She said she last saw the child walking alone along a road on the day she went missing. When Melissa’s name was called out, she ran away.
Ronald McManus, also known as Ronnie Dunbar (44), Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Melissa between September 14th and 30th, 2006. He also denies a charge of threatening to kill his own daughter during that period.
On day four of the trial, the jury heard from Health Service Executive (HSE) staff and gardaí who had dealt with the girl in the weeks leading up to September 14th when she absconded from the custody of a social worker. Her body was found on the shore of Lough Gill in Sligo in February 2008.
Melissa had been taken into care in late August 2006 after running away from her family home nearly three weeks earlier. The jury heard that she was very close to Mr Dunbar and his daughters and spent a large amount of time with them.
Donna McTague told Seán Gillane, prosecuting, that of the 16 nights Melissa was supposed to be housed at Lis na nÓg residential care facility, she remained there on only eight.
Ms McTague said it was difficult for Melissa to settle or for staff to establish any type of therapeutic relationship with her because of her absences and the amount of time she spent with Mr Dunbar.
She said a meeting was called between staff, Melissa and Mr Dunbar on September 6th to work towards reducing his level of contact with the child. When Mr Dunbar arrived at the facility, he was “verbally abusive” towards a 16-year-old male resident whom he accused of being in his house and his bed the previous week when Mr Dunbar was absent.
Ms McTague said Mr Dunbar was asked to wait to be called into the meeting but left after 10 minutes. She said he said that the HSE was unable to look after young people and accused Ms McTague of not supporting her against the 16-year-old boy whom he then accused of being in bed with the deceased the week before.
Ms McTague said Melissa seemed fearful but left with Mr Dunbar despite Ms McTague asking her to stay.
The following day a court order was obtained from Sligo District Court under section 47 of the Child Care Act which restricted Mr Dunbar’s access to Melissa without prior consent of the HSE.
Ria Openhaffen, another social worker at Lis na nÓg, said that on September 7th, she advised Mr Dunbar of the court order restricting his access to Melissa.
She said he was “very annoyed, very angry” and said “you’re stitching me up”.
She said he was angry that the HSE had initially sought his assistance with Melissa and were now asking him to do the opposite.
Jane McCall told the court that Melissa was brought to her home on an emergency fostering basis on September 13th. She described her as a charming, polite and very pretty girl. She said Melissa seemed to relax and settle in her home until she received a phone call on her mobile at 11.30pm.
Ms McCall said Melissa left her house in her bare feet after that call. Ms McCall had tried to stop her by grabbing her wrist, but Melissa told her she would “have me for assault” and so she let her go.
The jury heard that Melissa showed up at a nearby house after midnight and asked the residents to phone Mr Dunbar whom she said was her father. The residents called Mr Dunbar and gardaí and Melissa was picked up by her social worker.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and is expected to continue for four further weeks.