Renmore Tragedy — Evidence of State Pathologist — Another Remand

Galway Observer, January 28, 1933

At Galway District Court today, further evidence was heard in the case in which William Walsh, a member of the Irish speaking battalion of the National Army, stationed at Renmore, Galway, is charged with the wilful murder of his brother Patrick Walsh at Galway on October 7th last.

Patrick Walsh was found in a dying condition on the line at Renmore railway bridge. He died in the central Hospital, Galway, later.

Mr. J. Kelly, State Solicitor, appeared for the State and Mr. Counihan, solicitor, (of Messrs L. E.O'Dea & Arkins), appeared for the accused.

Mr. M. J. Allen, Coroner, the first witness examined stated that at the inquest on the body of Patrick Walsh the jury brought in a verdict that the deceased died from a fracture of the skull.

Captain O'Doherty, Medical Officer at Renmore, stated that on the 7th October last, he saw deceased Patrick Walsh who was lying on a stretcher and was unconscious. Walsh was suffering from compression of the brain. His injuries consisted of a jagged wound over the eyebrow. There was bleeding from the nose. There was a good deal of congealed blood on the face.

Private McCole swore that he was on guard at 1.55 on the morning of the tragedy. He went to the barrack gate and saw a civilian outside. The man spoke to the witness in the English tongue but he could only understand a few words. Witness then shut the gate and went back to the guardroom and saw the accused Wm. Walsh there. Witness reported at the guardroom that there was a civilian at the gate. After a while Walsh the accused passed out of the guardroom and appeared to be going out. Accused said he wanted to go into the officers mess. Witness did not allow him out. He told accused to go into his room and he did so. He next saw accused between nine and ten same morning. He understood a fatigue party left barrack with a stretcher and brought in a man. He recognized the man on the stretcher as the man he saw at the gate that morning. Witness did not know who admitted Walsh the accused to the barrack that night.

Mr. Counnihan — Was accuser's clothes soiled?

Witness: I did not notice anything on his uniform. The night was dry.

Dr. McGrath, State pathologist, Dublin, stated that on October 30th last, he carried out a post mortem examination on the body of Patrick Walsh, at Ardmore, Co. Waterford. There was a deep wound over the left eye one and a half inches long. The bones of the nose were fractured. There was slight bruising of the left shoulder and wrist. There was a wound on the left side of the hip about half an inch long.