MELISSA MAHON - Aged 15 years - Sligo (Eire)

RTE News

5 May 2009

Girl claims she saw father kill Mahon

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0505/mahonm.html

Belfast Telegraph

6 May 2009

Daughter continues evidence in Sligo murder trial

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/daughter-continues-evidence-in-sligo-murder-trial-14292536.html

Irish Independent

6 May 2009

Daughter "saw Dad kill Melissa"

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/daughter-saw-dad-kill-melissa-1729569.html

PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE IS PARTICULARLY DISTRESSING TO READ


Irish Independent

7 May 2009

I held a tie around Melissa's neck, says daughter of accused

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/i-held-a-tie-around-melissas-neck-says-daughter-of-accused-1731149.html

Irish Times

7 May 2009

Youngest daughter gives evidence in Sligo murder case

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0507/1224246059090.html

As ye can see this case is top news in Ireland during the trial.

RTE News

7 May 2009

Mahon pregnancy test "positive", court told

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0507/mahonm.html

Irish Times

7 May 2009

Murder trial told of victim's pregnancy test

* A lot more information in this article

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0508/1224246130899.html

SHOCKING REVELATIONS IN CASE

Irish Independent

9 May 2009

Melissa accused sick of life, court told


GARDAI found newspaper clippings about the disappearance of a teenager in the house of the man accused of her murder, a court heard yesterday.

A small bottle marked "caustic soda" and a hypodermic syringe were also found on a bedside locker in the home of Ronald McManus.

The Central Criminal Court trial previously heard a claim from Mr McManus's youngest daughter that her father had sent her a text message in which he said he was "sick of life and living" and that he would inject himself with caustic soda.

Mr McManus, also known as Ronald Dunbar, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, denies murdering Melissa Mahon (14) between September 14 and 30 2006 and also denies threatening to kill his daughter, Samantha Conroy, in the same period.

Melissa was last seen on September 14 2006 and her remains were discovered at Lough Gill in February 2008.

In a search carried out on April 10 2008 at Mr McManus's house, gardai also found a rubber dinghy under a bed as well as a large bottle of bleach in the kitchen.

Detective Garda Tom Carey from the ballistics unit said that the newspaper cuttings were found in a plastic bag in the living room of the house.

Mr McManus had been arrested earlier that day on suspicion of murder and his house, as well as a neighbouring house where he previously lived, were designated crime scenes.

Cardboard boxes with broken up parts of binoculars protruding from them were also found at two bedroom windows in Mr McManus's house.

Security

Det Gda Carey said the boxes were designed to give the effect of a security camera when viewed from outside the house.

Several gardai also told the court that they found human remains in searches of the River Bonnet and Lough Gill in February 2008.

Gardai were led to the river by Samantha Conroy, who said she and her father and her youngest sister threw Melissa's body in the water.

Among the remains recovered were a femur bone, a fibula, teeth, a fragmented skull, vertebrae, rib bones and part of a jaw bone.

Other items found in the searches included a sleeping bag, a neck tie and a nightie.

The trial continues.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/melissa-accused-sick-of-life-court-told-1734113.html

Irish Independent

9 May 2009

Fear stopped girl implicating dad, murder trial hears


http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/fear-stopped-girl-implicating-dad-murder-trial-hears-1734567.html

Belfast Telegraph

12 May 2009

Sligo Man gives evidence in Melissa Mahon trial

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/sligo-man-gives-evidence-in-melissa-mahon-trial-14299392.html

Irish Times

13 May 2009

Parents leave court, too upset to hear all the evidence

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0513/1224246388691.html

Irish Independent

15 May 2009

Melissa accused "wanted to be king of battlefield"

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/melissa-accused-wanted-to-be-king-of-battlefield-1741347.html

Herald.ie

15 May 2009

Ronnie "played football after killing Melissa"

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/ronnie-played-football-after-killing-melissa-1740198.html

Irish Times

22 May 2009

Mahon trial told of 'incredible' accounts

Defence counsel in the Melissa Mahon murder trial has told the jury that, while it may not like the accused and may suspect him of some crime, it should not convict him of murder based on his daughters’ accounts which are “radically inconsistent and inherently incredible”.

Mr Justice White will complete his charge on Monday morning and then send the jury out to begin its deliberations. The court will not sit today.

Brendan Grehan SC, defending, told the jury that after a five-week trial it had still not heard the truth about what happened to Melissa Mahon.

Ronald McManus (44), also known as Ronnie Dunbar, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Melissa on a date unknown between September 14th and 30th, 2006.

He also denied threatening to kill one of his daughters, Samantha Dunbar.

We will know in a few hours hopefully as jury retire this afternoon.

Irish Times

26 May 2009

Mahon Murder Trial jury sent home


* Later today we should know outcome

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0526/1224247404322.html

Irish Independent

Wednesday May 27 2009

Dunbar found guilty of Melissa Mahon's manslaughter

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/dunbar-found-guilty-of-melissa-mahons-manslaughter-1752757.html

I have no idea how the family feel now that the verdict is in. In my book it is murder ! I hope he gets a long sentence !

RTE News

10 July 2009

Ronald McManus has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the manslaughter of Melissa Mahon in September 2006.

In May, McManus, also known as Ronnie Dunbar, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of the 14-year-old.

McManus showed no emotion as he stood to hear Mr Justice Barry White pass sentence.

Justice White said McManus, of Rathbraughan Park in Sligo, had preyed upon the teenager's vulnerability and fragility.

He said the 44-year-old disposed of her body in a manner not befitting an animal after taking her life. 'It was not done in panic, but a calculated and deliberate manner.'

Because her remains - which were dumped in the river Bonnet in Sligo - were not found for a year and half, the cause of death could not be properly established.

This, he said, would have been in the jury's mind when it convicted him of manslaughter and not murder.

Justice White said throughout the trial, McManus was disdainful, scornful and bordering on contemptuous of his surroundings.

He said there were no mitigating factors and that McManus had never apologised or shown any remorse.

Irish Examiner.com

11 July 2009

Life sentence for Melissa's ice cold killer

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/life-sentence-for-melissas-ice-cold-killer-96153.html

Eircom News Ireland

12 August 2009

Melissa Mahon to be laid to rest today

http://news.eircom.net/breakingnews/16245486/?view=Standard