THE YOUNGEST daughter of the Sligo man accused of murdering 14-year-old Melissa Mahon has told a jury that she gave a number of different accounts of the killing because she was brainwashed by the accused and was trying to protect him.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, was cross examined by defence counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, via video link on the 11th day of the Central Criminal Court trial.
She said she was frightened for her father and that he had threatened to kill himself.
Melissa Mahon went missing from the care of the Health Service Executive in Sligo on September 14th, 2006. Her remains were discovered along the shore of Lough Gill in February 2008 after another daughter of the accused approached gardaí with information.
Ronald McManus (44), also known as Ronnie Dunbar, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering the schoolgirl in September 2006. He also denies threatening to kill his daughter, Samantha Conroy.
Mr Grehan suggested to the witness that her evidence was inconsistent with that earlier given by Samantha. She variously replied that they were young, frightened, in shock, that it was a long time ago and that people perceived matters differently.
She said: “You’d be more worried if they were exactly the same”.
Samantha Conroy earlier told the court that she saw her father on a bed with Melissa. She said they were lying on their sides and he had his arm around her neck. Samantha alleges the accused got up when she entered the room and that she tried to resuscitate Melissa who was struggling to breathe. The witness instead alleged that their father took a tie from his bedside locker and wrapped it around Melissa’s neck. She said her father then asked her and Samantha to each hold an end of the tie while he left the room.
Mr Grehan asked her why she did not let go and she said she was frightened. She said she held the tie for a number of minutes and then went downstairs to turn the cooker off as she had earlier been baking a cake. Asked if she was serious about that she replied, “very serious”.
The witness said she was too frightened to ask what was going on and said that when the accused came back into the room he placed a pillow over Melissa’s face.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of six men and six women. It is expected to continue for another two to three weeks.