Jury in Cork murder trial ask to see pathologist's report again

The ten men and two women on the jury in the Kieran Quilligan murder trial, at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, have asked this morning to see the pathologist’s report in the case again.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford told them that the transcript of the evidence given by Dr Margaret Bolster would be printed and sent into the jury room today, on Day 12 of the trial.

Dr Bolster said in her evidence that while the precise cause of death could not be determined, she said the injuries were “consistent with severe assault in the laneway”.

Investigating gardaí had informed Dr Bolster of their allegations that he was seriously assaulted on the steps of the laneway at the side of St Fin Barre’s cathedral.

Dr Bolster testified that she went to an area known as Whitewell on January 29 2024 where the skeletal remains were found in a jute bag in a ravine at the side of a road, partly covered by mud and vegetation. 

The first thing she saw was the pelvic bone protruding and she said: 

“The skull was totally separated from the body.” 

In one small piece of remaining skin, part of a tattoo was visible and it consisted of one word, “mother”.

The pathologist said there were old healed fractures to the remains but there were multiple fractures described as perimortem — occurring close to the time of death. They included several significant skull and facial area fractures, as well as numerous rib fractures.

Referring to a femur fracture she found “a circular indentation, suggestive of a blow from a blunt weapon like a hammer”. 

Later, the pathologist referred to other “circular injuries, strongly suggestive of hammer blows”. 

Due to the absence of organs because of decomposition, it was not possible to give a precise cause of death, but there was no doubt at all but that there was a severe assault, Dr Bolster said.

Cross-examined by Brendan Grehan for the accused man, Luke Taylor, Dr Bolster said there was no evidence of a shooting or of stab wounds.

The pathologist said that a cable tie around the left ankle and right shin and two knotted pieces of plastic around the neck were likely to have been used for the purpose of carrying the body.

She accepted Mr Grehan’s suggestion that the tied plastics could have been used as a ligature. 

On the question of whether there could have been a bag over the head of the deceased, Dr Bolster said: “There is no evidence of that in my opinion, no.” 

28-year-old Luke Taylor, formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, and 33-year-old Niall Long, formerly of St Michael’s Close, Mahon, Cork, are on trial on the same charge of murder. 

The murder count which each man denies, states that on a date unknown between September 1 2023 and January 29 2024, at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork city, he did murder Kieran Quilligan, 47, contrary to Common Law.

Ms Justice Lankford said that there were three verdicts open to them in respect of each defendant. They can find him guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.