A Dublin man tragically lost his life after a single, devastating stab wound to the neck, which severed a major artery and a vein, the Central Criminal Court has been told.
The Accused and the Incident
Joseph Lawlor, 39, from Hampton Wood Road in Finglas, Dublin 11, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 51-year-old Michael Ryan.
The incident took place in a car park behind Lawlor’s home on June 20, 2024.
Drinking and Early Confrontations
Evidence presented at the trial shows that Mr Lawlor and Mr Ryan spent much of the day drinking together at Lawlor’s home.
Their first physical confrontation occurred around 8:30 pm.
Later, just after 9:30 pm, a second altercation led Mr Ryan to leave in his car. Almost immediately, he was arrested for drink driving.
After being processed and released, Mr Ryan returned to Lawlor’s home, setting the stage for the fatal encounter.
Chilling Audio Evidence
The court heard that an audio recording captured Mr Ryan moments after being stabbed, shouting: “You fing ct you, you dirtbird, Joey.
You stabbed me in the artery, you f**ing eejit.”
Forensic Details of the Stab Wound
State pathologist Dr Yvonne McCartney described the injuries in detail.
She identified 57 scratches and bruises across Mr Ryan’s head, arms, legs, and torso.
The fatal stab wound was located 9.1cm below his right earlobe, above the collarbone.
Dr McCartney explained that the wound had one pointed end and one irregular, notched end.
Gardaí showed her a carving knife and a bread knife found at the scene; either could have caused the wound.
Moderate force was needed to penetrate the skin, after which the knife easily entered the underlying soft tissue.
The wound measured 2.9cm in length and 5.8cm deep.
It severed a branch of the right carotid artery and the right jugular vein, partially collapsing the right lung and causing severe internal bleeding.
Death, the pathologist noted, would not have been instantaneous, as blood loss and lung collapse would take time to cause cardiac arrest.
Toxicology Findings
Mr Ryan had consumed cocaine in the hours before his death, and benzodiazepines were detected at below therapeutic levels.
His blood alcohol content was 1.5 times over the legal driving limit.
Dr McCartney concluded that the neck wound was the direct cause of death.
Other Injuries and Their Possible Causes
Under cross-examination, Dr McCartney acknowledged that some injuries could have resulted from other events that night.
Scratches on the back of Mr Ryan’s head may have occurred when he fell after being stabbed.
Bruises and abrasions to his face, chest, and back could have come from earlier scuffles with Mr Lawlor.
Defensive injuries on the hands might have been from protecting himself or from striking punches.
Marks on the shins and feet could be consistent with kicking or falling.
Trial Proceedings Continue
The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury.
The evidence presented so far paints a grim picture of a night that escalated from arguments and scuffles to a fatal stabbing.
