AN INQUEST in Galway yesterday heard how a young doctor was sexually assaulted and murdered by her boyfriend in their apartment, writes John Fallon.
Karen Guinee (23), from Douglas, Co Cork, was strangled, hit over the head - probably with a hammer - and sexually assaulted by her boyfriend Patrick Hogan jnr, the inquest heard.
Hogan, from Fr Griffin Avenue in Galway, was given a mandatory life sentence after pleading guilty in March to Ms Guinee's murder.
His father, Patrick Hogan snr, told the inquest he received a call from his son at 6.30am on June 12th, 2006. Hogan jnr told him "something terrible" had happened. His son told him that the downstairs door of the apartment was locked and that the gardaí should kick it in, but his father was not to come in. "I love you, Dad," his son said.
Mr Hogan asked his son whether Karen was all right, but he did not answer.
Mr Hogan said he rushed with his wife to the apartment at Fr Griffin Avenue, and his wife had a key which opened the downstairs door. He went straight to the bedroom where he found his son and his girlfriend lying on the bed side by side. Their arms were intertwined.
State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy said Ms Guinee had asphyxial marks on her neck and indications of blunt force trauma to the left side of her face, consistent with numerous hammer blows.
There was also a laceration and bruising of her genital area.
There was evidence of forceful penetration and the absence of defensive injuries suggested that she may already have been unconscious when this occurred.
Death was due to neck compression, consistent with manual strangulation. A contributory factor was the blunt force trauma to her head. The jury returned a verdict of death due to neck compression by manual strangulation, due to unlawful killing.
West Galway coroner Dr Ciarán McLoughlin and Garda Insp Michael Coppinger extended their deepest sympathy to the Guinee family on their loss.