Latest news with #DrSallyAnneCollis
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Michael Gaine case: Investigators believe most human remains at farm have been recovered
Investigators believe that they have now recovered most of the remains at Michael Gaine 's farm in Co Kerry , according to sources. Garda searches at the farmland are likely to continue until the end of the week and most of the body parts which have been recovered have been sent to the morgue at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee. Partial human remains were discovered by a family member and an agricultural contractor who were spreading slurry across Mr Gaine's farm just outside Kenmare on May 16th. The pair discovered that the blocked slurry tank they were using had been obstructed. READ MORE The office of the State Pathologist and Dr Sally Anne Collis confirmed the remains found in the trailing chute of the slurry tanker were human. The remains have since been formally identified as belonging to Mr Gaine. [ Fiona Pender case: Gardaí excavate Co Offaly site in search for missing woman as investigation upgraded to murder inquiry Opens in new window ] Gardaí believe that Mr Gaine was murdered in his farm yard shortly after he went there on the morning of March 20th and they believe his killer dismembered his body before disposing of the remains in the slurry tank. Gardaí hope that Dr Collis's examination of Mr Gaine's remains will yield insights into how he died and how his body was dismembered. Mr Gaine (56) was last seen in Kenmare on Thursday, March 20th and was reported missing the following day. His bronze Toyota Rav4 was discovered in his farmyard – off the N71 at Carrig East – with his wallet and phone inside. A man in his 50s, who was arrested last Sunday on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder, was subsequently released without charge . Gardaí continue to appeal to the public for assistance in the investigation. 'The Garda investigation team can be contacted at Killarney Garda station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or speak with any member of An Garda Síochána,' the spokesman said.
BreakingNews.ie
17-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Gaine disappearance: Gardaí confirm partial remains found at Kerry farm
Gardaí have confirmed that partial human remains have been found in Kerry during a search for missing man Michael Gaine. The 56 year-old was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday the 21st of March. Gardaí have been searching lands in Carrig East in Kenmare where a crime scene was declared. State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis and Forensic Anthropologist Laureen Buckley have carried out preliminary examinations at the scene on Saturday afternoon. Searches are ongoing to recover any further human remains. He was last seen the previous day in Kenmare town buying phone credit in the Centra shop at 9:48am. There have been extensive inquiries by gardaí investigating Mr Gaines' disappearance over the last eight weeks, as well as a public plea for information issued by his wife Janice Gaine and sister Noreen O'Regan. On April 29th the investigation was reclassified as a homicide. A member of Garda Technical Unit at the scene in Carrig East, Kenmare, as they investigate the disappearance of Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine. Photo: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Ireland Michael Gaine missing: What we know so far Read More In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: " This afternoon, May 17th, 2025, State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis and Forensic Anthropologist Laureen Buckley assisted by the Garda Technical Bureau have carried out preliminary examinations at the scene. "An Garda Síochána can confirm that partial human remains have been found. Searches are ongoing to recover any further human remains. "DNA analysis will be required to carry out formal identification of the recovered human remains." Defence Forces and the Garda Water Unit were also involved in search efforts in recent weeks, and checkpoints were held a week after his disappearance to help gather information that would aid the investigation
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Mother was smothered and strangled, pathologist tells murder trial
A 58-year-old woman whose son denies her murder had been smothered, strangled and had bruises to her face, torso and limbs, along with stab wounds to both her legs and a laceration to her head, a pathologist has told the Central Criminal Court. State pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis told the trial of Nigel Canavan (39) that the deceased, Angela Canavan (58), also had bruises on her left forearm that are consistent with defensive injuries where a person tries to protect their head or push someone away. Advertisement There were further injuries to the deceased's upper arms consistent with "grabbing or holding injuries", which the pathologist said can happen when a person is "handled around the place". Mr Canavan's Central Criminal Court trial has heard that the accused told gardaí that he was upstairs in his mother's home when he heard three "thuds" from the sitting room. When he went downstairs to investigate, he said he found her dead on her back on the floor, surrounded by broken glass and with a broken chair nearby. Mr Canavan, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, Co Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to his mother's murder at her home in St John's Terrace, Co Sligo on May 1st 2023. Advertisement Dr Collis on Thursday told Conor Devally SC for the prosecution that in her initial examination, she noticed pinpoint haemorrhaging around the deceased's eyes, which are commonly associated with asphyxia. There was a partial laceration 4cm in length on her forehead caused by blunt force trauma, and bruises to Ms Canavan's face, chest, abdomen, back, and both arms and legs. A 1.4cm thick stab wound to the front of the right thigh tracked to a depth of 13cm and was surrounded by bruising. She said this was consistent with the knife going in until the hilt met the skin, causing bruising around the wound. A stab wound to the left thigh tracked to a depth of 8cm. Advertisement Neither stab wound damaged major blood vessels, and they did not cause extensive bleeding. A toxicology report showed that Ms Canavan was seven times over the legal alcohol limit for driving and would have been intoxicated, Dr Collis said. In her conclusion, Dr Collis said the blunt force injuries and stab wounds were not significant enough to cause death. Haemorrhages around the eyes, caused by pressure building up in the head, indicated smothering or strangulation. Injuries to the inside of Ms Canavan's mouth that matched the shape of her teeth are consistent with something being applied to her mouth, preventing her from breathing. The pathologist could not say what was used to cover the mouth. Advertisement Bruising and haemorrhaging to the bones in the neck are evidence of strangulation, she said, whereby something applied pressure to her neck. She said the pattern of bruising would favour a hand rather than a ligature. The cause of death, she concluded, was external asphyxiation due to obstruction of the airways by suffocation or smothering and manual strangulation. Under cross-examination, Dr Collis told defence counsel Desmond Dockery SC that the "grabbing type" injuries could have been caused when Mr Canavan helped his mother to the toilet the night before her death. Mr Canavan told gardaí during interviews that his mother had been so intoxicated that she couldn't make it on her own. Dr Collis accepted that this could offer an "innocent explanation for some of the bruising". Advertisement Ireland Girl knocked down by church confession box door se... Read More She also agreed that some of the bruises to Ms Canavan's torso could have been caused by a tight "bear hug". Injuries to her wrists could have occurred if someone gripped her arms during a struggle, the pathologist said. Given Ms Canavan's history of heart disease and use of blood thinners, she would have bruised easily, Dr Collis said. Heart disease combined with Ms Canavan's frequent use of alcohol and a brain injury from a fall down the stairs in 2019, would have combined to make her more vulnerable to trauma than a person without those issues, Dr Collis said. The trial continues on Friday before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury of ten women and two men.
