Gardai called to a Co Galway cottage found dogs "barking viciously" in the house, where a man had lain dead for several days, a jury in the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
The jury had been told earlier that the body of Mr Tom Clisham had been mutilated by animals, with several ribs gnawed away and most of the flesh removed from the upper torso.
Mr Patrick Joseph McGreene (29), with addresses at Corrib Park and St Mary's Road, Galway, has denied the murder of his uncle, Mr Tom Clisham (53) between November 24th and December 4th, 1997, at Inverin, Co Galway.
Under cross-examination, Det Sgt Sean O'Grady said that when he arrived at the house there were several cats and dogs in the bedroom and in the kitchen. The dogs were "barking viciously" and the person in charge of the investigation decided a dog warden should be called. Asked if the animals were allowed to remain with the body, he said they were not removed at that stage. Defence counsel, Mr John Rogers SC, asked the sergeant if he had entered a room containing a toilet and a WC.
Det Sgt O'Grady said he had not, and he did not know what was in the room.
Mr Rogers put it to him that there were "things in that room which might have been useful in terms of a strangulation or could have been useful if someone wanted to engage in bondage or tying up".
Det Sgt O'Grady replied that he "never went into that room" and could not comment on it.
The court had previously heard that Mr Clisham was found dead in his home wearing only socks and with his hands loosely bound. The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Kelly and a jury.