The murder trial of architect Graham Dwyer has heard text messages between Elaine O’Hara’s phone and a phone the prosecution alleges belonged to Mr Dwyer which discussed how the texter would stab her to death.
Sean Guerin SC, for the prosecution, read an extensive log of text messages to the jury which were sent and between the two phones between April and July, 2011.
Mr Dwyer (42), an architect from Kerrymount Close, Foxrock, Dublin, is charged with murdering childcare worker Ms O’Hara (36) on August 22nd, 2012. The prosecution alleges he killed her for his own sexual gratification.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Ms O’ Hara’s remains were found in forestry on Kilakee Mountain, Rathfarnham, on September 13th, 2013.
Mr Guerin told the Central Criminal Court that messages sent on April 11th, 2011 allegedly discussed how the sender of texts from the 083 number would stab Ms O’Hara’s sister after they said Ms O’Hara must “help me get my knife into some flesh soon”.
Ms O’Hara replied: “I’ll do my best sir . . . if you want you can kill my sibling”.
The user of the 083 number replied: “Sister?”
Ms O’Hara replied: “Yes how did you guess?”
Another message from Ms O’Hara read: “Who cares . . . We never got on”.
The texter sent another message asking Ms O’Hara for photographs of her sister.
Mr Guerin said other texts gave Ms O’Hara’s sister’s married name, age, and address to the user of the other phone.
Another message read: “She’s a bitch.”
A later message from Ms O’Hara said: “Just talking about my fucked up childhood Sir. I know I’m just angry and I don’t mean it.”
On a separate date, Ms O’Hara sent a message that read: “Tell me something Sir, why if you really wanted to you haven’t done it yet?”
The reply was: “Conditions have to be perfect for the clean getaway”.
Other messages discussed how the sender allegedly told Ms O’Hara to have her teeth whitened.
She replied to say she could not afford to have her teeth whitened and that they weren’t “that bad”.
“You will get them whitened. I can rob the girls I stab.” replied the 083 number.
Other correspondence between the phones discussed stabbing Ms O’Hara and leaving a “nice oval stab wound”.
Texts read: “You don’t get your way I do” as well as “What if I did just one. What would happen?”
Ms O’Hara responded: “Probably nothing. But I’m afraid it would set my recovery back, that’s all.”
Another message read: “I’m doing so well Sir. I don’t want to go back Sir”.
Other messages from Ms O’Hara discussed scars and marks on her body from the stabbing. She expressed concerns about people seeing them.
“Okay we will have to find me a victim to stab”, was the reply.
There was further conversation about how stabbing a woman might take place.
“We will go out for walks in remote locations and strike if conditions are right”, said one text.
“Someone will see”, replied Ms O’Hara.
“Not at dusk in woods. We will be fine. I will prepare a hunting bag with things to prepare for the murder”, was the reply.
Further correspondence between the two phones talked about how the phone user had told Ms O’Hara that he would kill her and put her body in a suitcase.
“I suppose if you are going to do what you say you’re going to do … and bring me out in a suitcase . . . no one will see”, said Ms O’Hara.
More messages from Ms O’Hara said: “Sometimes you are all talk” and “I knew you would bottle it”.
He replied: “Wouldn’t do what? Are you saying I couldn’t kill you if I wanted to?”
Ms O’Hara replied: “No I’m saying you couldn’t bring me out in a suitcase. I know you could kill me.”
Another message read: “It’s your fault I want to kill . . . and you won’t let me stab you.”
Ms O’Hara replied: “I never thought my wanting to die would lead to this.”
Policing and crime analyst Sarah Skedd agreed with Mr Guerin that there was a flying competition at Roundwood, Co Wicklow, on June 11th 2011.
On June 12th, Ms O’Hara texted the 083 number to enquire how the owner of the phone was.
“Terrible, 15 per cent pay cut and came fifth in flying,” was the reply from the 083 number.
“Welcome to reality,” was the reply from Ms O’Hara.
