GUNSHOT WOUNDS account for approximately half of all homicides in the State and handguns are increasingly being used to inflict fatal injuries, according to the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.
Despite a recent decrease in the number of violent deaths overall, State pathologists are seeing proportionately more gunshot victims now than in previous years, with “a high level of gang-related violence”, said Dr Curtis.
The use of handguns had increased, he said.
“A number of years ago shotguns would have predominated. In the homicidal shootings we see, far and away handguns outnumber everything else,” he said.
“Victims very often suffer multiple gunshot wounds, which could be attributed to the use of semi-automatic weapons.
“A great fear I have is the advent of fully automatic weapons,” he said. “If they come on the scene the risk of innocent bystanders being hit will really be considerable. They are extremely difficult to control and are extremely dangerous weapons.”
Aside from gunshot deaths, stabbings and blunt force trauma largely account for the rest of the homicides, Dr Curtis said.
“We still see a great number of stabbings and blunt force trauma in the context of alcohol in and around pubs, clubs and house parties. A fight develops and there are kickings and beatings.”
Strangulations or poisonings were rare.
Recent developments in the science of DNA have led to significant advances being made in solving crime, said Dr Curtis. “It has been the big quantum leap forward in my working lifetime,” he said.
While DNA testing is the realm of the scientist, the forensic pathologist harvests all the necessary samples from the body and ensures there is no scope for contamination.
“It’s important to do everything we can to prevent contamination. The body is transported in a body bag which is not opened until we’re ready to do the postmortem. The trace samples – taken at the scene or in the mortuary – are taken wearing full protective clothing.
“When you’re taking samples at the mortuary and taking the clothing off the deceased, that’s done on forensic sheets so you don’t lose or spill any valuable material.”
Consultation by the State pathologists with specialists in other fields, including forensic anthropologists, neuropathologists and odontologists (who carry out identifications by means of dental examinations), had increased the quality of evidence they were providing, said Dr Curtis.
“Entomologists investigate insect activity on a body and can answer questions such as how long was the body there and where it was concealed. We now routinely rely on these specialists to help us with our work. I think collectively that has been an advance.”
Meanwhile, Dr Curtis and the State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy are involved in a project with members of the Garda Technical Bureau, which involves creating computer-generated diagrams of bodies, including injuries, for potential use in court cases.
“It could be used to help the court and the jurors. If it’s deemed legally acceptable, that’s what we intend to do.”