Woman suffered over 40 injuries during attack, court told

The death of Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray in the bedroom of her home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was due to asphyxia and strangulation, a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick has heard.

State pathologist Dr Yvonne McCartney gave evidence of conducting a postmortem examination on the body of the 89-year-old following her death on 4 August, 2024.

The jury was told the widow suffered more than 40 injuries including two broken bones in her neck and extensive bruising to her face, neck, arms and legs.

The court heard that there was evidence that the pensioner tried to defend herself when she was attacked in her bed.

Dr McCartney told the court that some of the injuries to Ms Ray’s hands and arms were consistent with defensive wounds.

Hasan Ali Gori, 52, originally from Chad, and with an address at St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Ray.

At the time, Mr Ali Gori was living in Ms Ray’s home, as he was in a relationship with her daughter, Mary Ray, who has an intellectual disability.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick also heard evidence from forensic scientist, Dr Stephen Clifford, who analysed DNA samples in the case.

He told the court that male DNA was detected on samples taken from Josie Ray’s right hand, including from under her fingernails.

Dr Clifford said this DNA matched the defendant and was 28,500 times more likely from Mr Ali Gori than from an unidentified person.

He noted that the finding of the accused’s DNA “may not be significant” given that he lived in the same house as Josie Ray.

Under cross examination by Senior Counsel Aidan Doyle, Dr Clifford explained that the presence of Mr Ali Gori’s DNA could have been due to “DNA transfer” because they shared the same home.

Mr Doyle, on behalf of the defence, asked whether a person’s DNA could be found beneath someone’s fingernails without that person having touched them.

Dr Clifford replied: “It’s possible.”

The prosecution case, led by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, is that Mr Ali Gori strangled and suffocated Josephine Ray.

The trial continues.