Amy (22) lay dying in derelict building for over four hours
A YOUNG mother of one was left dying on the floor of a derelict building for more than four hours after she was beaten and strangled.
The revelation came as a Central Criminal Court murder trial heard that Amy McCarthy (22) is estimated to have survived for around four hours after she suffered blunt force trauma injuries from multiple blows with indications – including handgrip marks on her neck – that she was manually strangled.
Adam O’Keeffe (27), of St Vincent’s Hostel, Co Cork, denies the murder of his girlfriend and mother of his son.
Mr O’Keeffe, on the opening day of the trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of six women and five men, admitted her manslaughter.
The trial heard that Mr O’Keeffe was jealous and, on the day of Ms McCarthy’s death, accused her of cheating on him.
The trial was told their relationship was very volatile and both had alcohol dependency issues.
Mr O’Keeffe is charged with the murder of Ms McCarthy between April 29/30, 2017, on the second floor of a derelict office complex at Sheares Street in Cork city centre.
A post-mortem examination by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster found that Ms McCarthy died from multiple injuries including blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxia caused by manual strangulation.
Blood tests revealed a very high concentration of alcohol in her system – 253mg in her blood and 400mg in her urine.
Dr Bolster said she believed Ms McCarthy was alive for around four hours after she suffered the trauma injuries.
Dean Nugent, who was with the couple on April 29, told the trial at one point he placed himself between them during a heated row.
“I would rather me get it than Amy getting it. I stayed with them because I did not want anything to happen to Amy,” he said.
Mr Nugent said Mr O’Keeffe kept accusing the deceased of cheating.
“(It) was not true. She was afraid – he kept asking her: ‘Did you cheat?’ She kept saying, ‘no’. The arguing got worse.
“He was getting more worked up. He was pushing Amy. She kept saying to him ‘stop’ but he would not. She was crying. She was sitting down on a chair. She was there ages sitting in the corner bleeding and crying.
“I was telling him stop. He was hitting her. I couldn’t do anything to stop him... he lost the plot.”
The trial continues.
‘I couldn’t do anything to stop him. He lost the plot’