Man told to leave house months before pensioner's death

A man who is accused of suffocating and strangling an 89-year-old woman in her home in Co Tipperary two years ago, was instructed by gardaí to leave the house six months before her death.

Hasan Ali Gori, aged 52, originally from Chad, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Josephine 'Josie' Ray in the bedroom of her home in Nenagh on 4 August 2024.

The accused was living in the home of the pensioner, as he was in a relationship with her daughter, Mary Ray, who has an intellectual disability.

Gardaí who were on patrol in Nenagh gave evidence of calling to an address in St Joseph’s Park on 13 March 2024, after they received a report of a domestic incident.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court heard that while gardaí were speaking to Josephine Ray and members of her family, a phone call was received by a family member and put on loudspeaker.

Garda Jack Walker told the court that he heard an argument between Mary Ray and her partner over the phone.

He and his colleague, Garda John Kearney, told Josie Ray that they would call to her house and tell the man to leave the property.

The court heard that when the gardaí arrived at Josie Ray's home, also in St Joseph’s Park, Mary Ray opened the door and the gardaí went upstairs where they found Mr Gori sitting on the bed, looking at his phone.

Gda Walker told the court that the defendant initially ignored them and when he was asked to leave the house, he replied, "The only way I leave this house is as a dead body".

In evidence this afternoon, an audio recording of a conversation between Mary Ray and her sister Frances was played to the jury.

It was recorded on the defendant's phone the night before Josie Ray’s death and later discovered on the device during the murder investigation.

The jury heard Mary’s sister tell her to stop being jealous and leave Mr Gori alone.

Frances can be heard telling Mary that the accused is not cheating on her and just looking at social media on his phone.

"He’s still with you. He’s not with any other girl," Frances told Mary. "It’s social media. He’s only friends with them."

The jury has previously heard that Mary Ray told gardaí that her partner was talking to prostitutes on his phone, when they called to the house on the night of August 3.

The prosecution case, led by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, is that Mr Gori strangled and suffocated Ms Ray in her bed on the morning of August 4, 2024.

The trial before a jury of 9 men and 3 women is expected to conclude this week.