A man accused of murdering his mother drew a finger across his throat when his brother asked where she was, a prosecution counsel told a murder trial jury in the Central Criminal Court yesterday. Mr Anthony Lynch (27) of Drumbarkey, Cootehill, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother, Sheila Lynch (44), of the same address, at their family home on December 19th, 1998.
Mr Michael Counihan SC told the jury that Mr Lynch was about to be taken to the psychiatric division of Cavan General Hospital when his mother's body was found strangled in her bed at her home. Suspicions were aroused when a dead dog was found near the Lynch family home by a passer-by. Gardai later found a trail of blood from where the dog was found which led to the house.
A large amount of cash was also found partially hidden at the back of the house. Mr Lynch had been seen behaving suspiciously before his mother's body was found and on one occasion he was reported by a publican to gardai for his own benefit, Mr Counihan said. He told the jury the court would later hear that Mr Lynch visited the local canon that day, behaving strangely and "saying something about a confession". The canon was "relieved" when Mr Lynch left about 15 minutes later, Mr Counihan said.
Later his brother, who had been out searching for his mother, returned to the house and asked where their mother was. It was then that Mr Lynch drew a finger across his throat, Mr Counihan said. Ms Lynch was found a short time later in her bed, strangled. State Pathologist Dr John Harbison would later tell the court Ms Lynch died from asphyxiation.
The trial before Mr Justice Murphy and the jury resumes today.