THE WOMAN charged with the murder of Paddy Redmond at an apartment in Limerick in 2013 sent Gardai on a “wild goose chase”, his inquest has heard.
Patrick Redmond (65) of 113 Month Kennett Apartments, Mount Kennett, Dock Road, was found in a pool of blood by Gardai at Mary Lynch’s neighbouring apartment during the early hours of November 10, 2013.
Mr Redmond was found conscious, but not able to talk, when detectives arrived after being alerted to a suspected stabbing incident.
Emergency Paramedics were treating Mr Redmond but they were gravely concerned as he had lost a lot of blood at the scene.
The 65-year-old man had been stabbed in the back just below his right shoulder blade.
Mary Lynch, a neighbour, told gardai that Mr Redmond arrived at her door and asked to sleep in her spare room.
She agreed but as Mr Redmond walked in, she told detectives that he collapsed and fell on her and that’s when she noticed his blood soaked clothing.
Sergeant Viv Downey, who was a detective based in Henry Street at the time, told Limerick Coroner’s Court that Ms Lynch (41) claimed Mr Redmond named two individuals as the perpetrators of the stabbing as he fell at her door.
Detectives and members of the Armed Regional Support Unit who were at the scene, breached the door of Mr Redmond’s apartment but found no evidence of a struggle or anyone inside.
“This effectively led Gardai on a wild goose chase”, Coroner John McNamara said, which Inspector Padraic Byrnes agreed with.
A short time later, Mary Lynch told gardai that “everything is clean here”, when a blood stained knife was found in her apartment. Forensics said that the knife matched the one used to kill Paddy Redmond.
The coroners court heard that her apartment was declared a crime scene and Ms Lynch, who was not arrested at the time, would have to find alternative accommodation.
Sgt Downey said that on a number of occasions during the remainder of the night, Ms Lynch became verbally abusive at being excluded from her apartment while the investigation continued.
The 65-year-old father of three later died at University Hospital Limerick during emergency surgery.
Ms Lynch later accompanied Sgt Downey to Henry Street Garda Station and gave a voluntary cautioned statement where she again said that Mr Redmond arrived at her apartment with the stab wound.
On December 4, 2013 she was arrested and charged with the murder of Paddy Redmond.
She was returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court in September 2015 but before her trial got underway in 2016, she was found dead in her apartment having taken her own life.
Limerick Coroners’ Court heard that due to the death of Ms Lynch, no one has been prosecuted or convicted of the murder of Paddy Redmond.
Medical evidence was given to the inquest which detailed the fatal injuries suffered by the father of three.
Coroner John McNamara directed the jury that the verdict it should return was one of unlawful killing despite the fact that nobody was convicted of his murder.
