A Kerry man found dead at the bottom of a well had been killed by head blows that reduced his brain "to pulp", a murder trial jury heard yesterday.
Mr Eugene Daly (26), of Dooneen, Kilcummin, Killarney, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing his uncle, Patrick Daly (69), with the intention to kill or cause him serious injury on or about January 18th, 1996.
Giving evidence for the prosecution, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told the Central Criminal Court that in her opinion Mr Daly was dead before being put in the well. She said that a rusted iron bar, produced in court, was "consistent" with the weapon that inflicted multiple head fractures and other injuries.
She said the cause of death was brain swelling, contusion and lacerations caused by blunt force trauma to the head, and death had occurred "several days previously" as cold water in the well and lack of predators had preserved the body.
Cross-examined by defence counsel Mr Patrick Marrinan SC, Dr Bolster agreed that injuries to the head had "effectively reduced the brain to pulp" and that other injuries were not the cause of death.
The court had heard that Mr Daly's body had been taken from a well on his 105-acre farm at Dooneen after he had been reported missing by a neigh bour.
Mr John Edwards SC, prosecuting, told the jury it was the State's case the accused and his father had acted together in bringing about the death of Mr Daly after family rows erupted over the running of the deceased man's farm. The accused and his father, Mr Sean Daly, had worked on the farm and shared the rents and profits but there had been rows over the sale of animals and other matters. The case continues today.