Five bullets went through deceased's torso, murder trial hears
Eoin Reynolds
A man who was shot dead in his front garden was struck by five bullets which went through his body, causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse, a murder trial has heard.
Christopher Devine (44), with an address at Convent Lawns, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot in Dublin 10, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Michael Tormey (49) at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot in the early hours of January 9th, 2022.
The jury has heard that a consultant psychiatrist to be called by the defence will give evidence that the accused was suffering from substance-induced psychotic disorder at the time. However, it is the State's case that the accused man was not suffering from a mental disorder and instead meets the criteria for cocaine intoxication.
State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster on Monday told Garret Baker SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, that she carried out a post mortem on Mr Tormey's body in the Dublin District Mortuary on the day of the shooting.
She said she viewed photographs of the scene at Thomond Road, which showed Mr Tormey lying on his back between a parked car and a garden wall.
There was a bullet close to his left foot and another in a drain beside the wall. The t-shirt and hoodie worn by the deceased had a number of bullet holes front and back, surrounded by heavy blood staining, she said.
On examination of the body, she found five bullet entry wounds to the deceased's torso and five corresponding exit wounds. Some of the bullets entered the front of the chest, and others entered the back, suggesting that the deceased turned around after the initial shots.
The bullets caused fractures to various ribs and tearing, bleeding and partial collapse of the lungs, she said.
She also noted bruises and abrasions to Mr Tormey's knees and chest, which were consistent with "collapse type injuries", that Dr Bolster said could have been caused when he fell to the ground after being shot.
The pathologist said the deceased died having suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and the cause of death was haemorrhage and collapse of the lungs.
The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of nine men and three women.
