THE KILLER of two elderly psychiatric patients continued mutilating both victims' bodies after they were already dead, it has emerged.
The murders were carried out by a highly disturbed and very dangerous person, but gardai apparently have no suspect in mind.
They are concerned that the killer of Miss Mary Callinan (61) and Miss Sylvia Shields (57) in housing in the precincts of St Brendan's psychiatric hospital at Grangegorman, Dublin, might kill again.
The mutilation inflicted on both bodies is said to have never previously been encountered in a murder investigation here. It has given rise to suspicions that another psychiatric patient could have been responsible.
One of the victims suffered an extraordinary degree of mutilation involving repeated stab and cutting wounds. Extensive mutilation of her genital area also occurred but there was no indication of rape. No semen was found in or around either body. In both cases there was evidence of "post-mortem injuries" in the form of slice wounds on the bodies.
Chief Supt Dick Kelly, who is heading the investigation, revealed on Thursday that there was no sexual assault "as such" but did not elaborate on the extent and nature of the injuries. It is now known that five knives were found at the murder scene.
A third woman shared the house at Orchard View with Miss Callinan and Miss Shields, but slept in a downstairs room. She was unharmed and raised the alarm after discovering the bodies at about 7 a.m. last Friday.
Miss Callinan was found in her bed and was apparently killed by a stab wound inflicted while she was still asleep. Miss Shields, who was sleeping in an adjoining room, may have made some attempt to defend herself. She was found lying on her bedroom floor. Nothing was stolen from the house.
Gardai have examined a car stolen in the Ranelagh area which was found abandoned near Grangegorman on the morning of the murder, but no evidence has been found to link it to the murders. The hospital and prison records of people released into the community; recently are also being checked.
The bizarre nature of the murders and the injuries inflicted may lead the gardai to call in professional psychological assistance.