Grangegorman DNA found on Nashs jacket, court hears

The Central Criminal Court has heard how DNA profiles from two women killed in Grangegorman nearly 20 years ago were found on a jacket belonging to Mark Nash in 2009. File photograph: Collins Courts.

DNA profiles from two women killed in Grangegorman nearly 20 years ago were found on a jacket belonging to Mark Nash in 2009, a jury has heard.

Mark Nash (42) has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6th and March 7th, 1997.

The trial has heard that the two women were living in sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendans Hospital in Grangegorman, Dublin at the time.

Counsel for the State na N Raifeartaigh SC, today called Dr Linda Williams, who told the court that she works in the DNA section of Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

Dr Williams told the court how, on September 29th, 2009 she received three self-sealed plastic bags containing thread and buttons belonging to the right cuff of Mark Nashs black pinstriped velvet jacket from Dr Brid McBride, also of the FSI.

Dr Williams told the court that she separated the threads from these buttons for DNA extraction.

DNA is a chemical or a complex molecule that is present in the body, its present in the skin cells and stays the same throughout your life. With the exception of identical twins, no two people have the same DNA, Dr Williams explained to the jury of six men and five women.

Dr Williams explained that she extracted DNA from the button threads and compared them to the profiles of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan.

She then conducted DNA quantification, to assess the quantity and quality of the sample. The third step she took was DNA amplification.

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Grangegorman DNA found on Nashs jacket, court hears