Marie Cassidy

Sonia's T-shirt had been pushed deep into her mouth, exacerbating the effects of the strangulation.

The state pathologist, Marie Cassidy, noted that due to the bruising around her mouth, that she was undoubtedly alive when her top was put into her mouth.

And it was put in with such force and such ferocity that he broke several of her teeth and the wire retainer at the back of her teeth.

Sonia Blunt had been murdered in an act of extreme violence.

The Garda Technical Bureau arrived in their white forensic suits, erecting tents over the ditch to protect the evidence from the elements.

The state pathologist, Dr. Marie Cassidy, was called to the scene.

Conducting a post-mortem on a body that has been exposed to the elements for five months is an incredibly difficult and delicate task.

But Dr. Cassidy's findings were definitive.

Mary's communication with her mother was virtually nonexistent, and Mary's mother was very upset over this.

Mary had always taken pride in her appearance, but this had started to deteriorate not long after the wedding, a change that was noticed by Mary's mum, Marie.

Her clothes were becoming quite shabby.

Her nails weren't painted, 'cause Mary was very proud of her nails and getting her nails done and that.

At 4:57 that morning, Brian was pronounced dead.

Professor John Harbison, who was the state pathologist at the time, carried out the postmortem examination.

He found multiple injuries to Brian's face and head.

He described evidence of considerable violence and said the injuries weren't consistent with Brian simply falling and striking his head off the ground.

Laide and Mackey were released in September that year after serving about 18 months of their two-year violent disorder sentences with remission.

Dermot Laide's manslaughter retrial was due to begin on the 24th of April, 2006.

Three days earlier, his solicitor received a new statement from the state pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy.

When the case was called, Prosecutor Edward Common told the court that the DPP was entering a null prosecute because ongoing evidential difficulties could not be overcome.

Sonia's T-shirt had been pushed deep into her mouth, exacerbating the effects of the strangulation.

The state pathologist, Marie Cassidy, noted that due to the bruising around her mouth, that she was undoubtedly alive when her top was put into her mouth.

And it was put in with such force and such ferocity that he broke several of her teeth and the wire retainer at the back of her teeth.

Sonia Blunt had been murdered in an act of extreme violence.