A profoundly deaf young man who was found dead in a isolated country lane died from multiple skull fractures, a murder trial jury heard yesterday.
John Carroll (21) sustained a "jigsaw" of fractures which sent shards of bone into the brain, the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, told the Central Criminal Court.
One depressed fracture to the left side of the head measured 6 in by 4 in and the deceased also suffered six injuries to the upper left eye. Dr Cassidy said Mr Carroll had also sustained injuries to the chest and groin.
Mr William Roche (23) from Limerick, with an address at Millstream, Killaloe, Co Clare, has denied the murder of Mr Carroll, Cappamore, Co Limerick, on December 4th, 1998, at Garraun, Ballinahinch, Newport, Co Tipperary.
The prosecution allege that Mr Carroll was brought in a semi-conscious condition by Mr Roche and two others to a remote laneway off the Dublin/Limerick road where his head was "bashed in" with the handle of a hatchet. He was left for dead and no assistance was called, it is alleged.
Det Garda John Higgins of the Garda ballistics section who examined the scene of the murder, said he noticed that the sole of the deceased's shoes were not as muddy as the sides. This indicated that the deceased had either crawled to the spot where he was found dead or had been dragged.
Det Garda Higgins told the jury he noted blood stains around the body and what appeared to be brain tissue. In his opinion, "the area where the deceased lay was where he suffered a number of blows to the head".
Det Garda Higgins said he had also examined a ratchet which had been found approximately 8 km further down the Dublin/Limerick road. The ratchet was generally used for tractors or JCBs. The trial was adjourned for legal argument.