Killer died after lorry struck him on birthday

A PSYCHO convicted and jailed for killing his girlfriend died after being struck by a truck on his birthday.

Laurence Callaghan of Back Lane Hostel, South Dublin, died on October 26, 2016, the date he turned 51.

In February 2000, he was jailed for four years for the manslaughter of his girlfriend Janet Mooney, 29, over a lump of cannabis he thought she’d hidden from him.

His trial heard the sicko had sex with her corpse and kept her body in his flat for three days before handing himself in.

Prosecutors said he admitted to gardai the morning after he attacked Ms Mooney he awoke beside her body and had sex with it, saying: “I didn’t realise she was dead.”

Witness Paul O’donnell told Dublin Coroner’s Court he saw Mr Callaghan struck by a truck on 11.45am on the day of his death.

The incident happened just beyond the junction of Meath Street and The Coombe as the truck was travelling towards the city.

Mr O’donnell said: “Initially when I saw him he was walking. Then it looked like he picked up speed to get across the road in front of the truck.”

Emergency services were called but Callaghan was pronounced dead at the scene. The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.