Counsel for the prosecution has told the jury in his closing statement in the trial that Architect Graham Dwyer murdered Elaine O'Hara for the purpose of satisfying a "deep-seated sexual desire".
Seán Guerin SC, told the jury it was the prosecution’s case that the defendant had murdered Elaine O’Hara by stabbing, having arranged to lure or bring her up the mountains for that purpose
Mr Dwyer (42), an architect from Kerrymount Close in Foxrock, is charged with murdering Ms O’Hara, who was aged 36, on August 22nd, 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. Ms O’Hara was last seen near Shanganagh cemetery at about 5.45pm on that date. Her remains were found in forestry on Killakee Mountain, Rathfarnham, on September 13th, 2013.
Beginning his closing statement shortly after 2pm on Thursday Mr Guerin said Ms O'Hara had had the misfortune to be in a situation where she had been amenable to be brought along as part of the defendant's plan to kill her, and her circumstances had enabled him to exploit her for the purpose he had in mind.
With regard to documents found on computer equipment seized by gardaí during searches at Mr Dwyer’s home and office, Mr Guerin said these documents illustrated fantasies on the part of the person who wrote them.
He said they were not fantasies in the sense of “unicorns” but that fantasy had another meaning, particularly in a sexual context.
“I suggest fantasy is an expression of a desire,” said Mr Guerin.
“It may not be real, but the whole point of it is that the person who has it wishes it was real.”
Mr Guerin told the jury the “frankly disgusting” fantasies outlined in the documents were held by someone who “goes about making them real”.
In order to make his fantasy real, Mr Dwyer had identified victims willing to submit to it – preferably willingly, but if they did not, then “any victim” would do.
‘Sickening torture’
Mr Guerin said the defendant had discussed three real people, who were discussed in “the most disgusting terms” in the documents. These were Darci Day, Elaine O’Hara and an auctioneer who had the misfortune to work across the road from Mr Dwyer’s office on Baggot Street.
The documents imagined in “vivid” detail “the most vile and sickening torture and murder of women”, said counsel.
Mr Guerin said contact between Mr Dwyer and Elaine O’Hara throughout their relationship had shown he had indicated he would “gladly and willingly” help her to end her life.
“This is a common theme throughout the relationship – this wickedness hiding behind a mask of pity, offering a suicidal woman help in the form of a way out. She just wanted to be loved and she wanted some attention,” Mr Guerin told the jury.
Outlining further texts between Ms OHara and the person who wanted to stab her, allegedly Mr Dwyer, counsel noted he had made clear his “offer of a painless end”.
In one exchange, when Ms O’Hara had texted that she had to see her psychiatrist, the reply was again one of “pure wickedness with the mask of pity”. He had offered to help her, including by offering a “painless end to it all”, said Mr Guerin.
“Lest there be any doubt, he says he has everything ready if it all becomes too much.”
Mr Guerin added: “This is not a joke, ladies and gentlemen. This is an unwell woman who needs the help of her psychiatrist to cope and who has been suicidal in the past.”
And this person, under the guise of care, was “pushing her towards the edge”.
Mr Guerin said it was the fear of loneliness that had led Ms O’Hara into the situation in which she had subsequently found herself.
Contact resumed between Ms O’Hara and Mr Dwyer in March of 2011 and it was not clear how long it had been since they had last been in contact since 2008 and early 2009, he said.
But from a very early stage of the relationship, Ms O’Hara had repeatedly made it clear that “she’s not into blood, she’s not into stabbing and she does not want to be stabbed”.
He said Mr Dwyer had misled gardaí during his interviews about the nature of his relationship with Ms O’Hara and “for good reason when you learn what the truth was”.