Accused in Cobh murder trial didn't account for his movements at relevant time to gardaí
The tattoo artist on trial for murdering a young man in Cobh by slashing his leg with a sword was questioned by gardaí around a week afterwards but he made no comment when asked to account for his movements at the relevant time.
31-year-old Dylan Scannell of O'Rahilly Street, Cobh, County Cork, spoke to gardaí following his arrest on March 22, 2024, for murdering Ian Baitson and he described being a tattoo artist, his drug use, mental health and a head injury he sustained in a fall.
He was also questioned about key aspects of the investigation and warned in legal terms that inferences could be drawn from a failure to answer.
Sergeant Diarmuid O'Neill and Detective Garda Dave Barry put it to him that blood of Ian Baitson was found on the passenger footwell mat of a car in which he (the accused) was present at 20.53 on March 15, 2024, after - gardaí believed - he seriously assaulted Ian Baitson with a sword.
Asked if he wished to say anything about that, he replied, 'No'.
Ian Baitson (pictured) died on March 19, 2024. File picture
Similar inference explanations were given to him when he was asked why he was present at the Eurospar car park at the relevant time when Ian Baitson was subjected to a brutal assault by him with a sword. He replied: 'No comment.'
This evidence emerged from memos of interviews on March 22 and March 23, 2024, at Midleton garda station.
In the murder trial which ran throughout this week Dylan Scannell denied murdering 33-year-old chef, Ian Baitson, in Eurospar car park, Newtown Road, Cobh, on March 19, 2024, but admitted his manslaughter. The prosecution case is almost finished, prosecution senior counsel Donal O'Sullivan said on Friday.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said to the jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork: 'We will go into the final stages of this trial next week.' She asked the jury to return on Tuesday, June 3.
In earlier parts of the interviews talking about his life and background, the accused said he was engaged to be married and that he had worked for years as a tattoo artist and had his own studio at different times, in Cobh and Tralee, and was still doing it at that time in early 2024 on a freelance basis.
In relation to his own body tattoos, he referred to one on his head of an Egyptian demon. He had an interest in American show dogs and fishing, he said during interviews.
He also said: 'My mental health is not great.' He spoke of falling from a roof six weeks previously for which he received hospital treatment.
Regarding drugs, he said:
I am taking cocaine – half a lump a day, maybe more.
He also spoke of taking other drugs including, 'acid, mushrooms and ecstasy'. He said his drug-taking began at the age of 13 or 14.
Defence senior counsel Tom Creed said reference was also made to the defendant taking medication, including anti-depressants.
Before the evidence of memos of interviews, there was evidence from two forensic scientists from Forensic Science Ireland.
Dr Alan Magee said blood samples on a car mat taken in evidence from a rented Skoda Octavia matched the profile of the deceased, Ian Baitson.
Dr Stephen Clifford said that a sample taken from a sword matched the DNA profile of Ian Baitson, using a different type of DNA test than his colleague used on the mat.
He explained that the sword-matched DNA could also match a person's siblings and maternal relatives.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
3 hours ago
- Sunday World
Gardaí seize €2m worth of cannabis herb in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
Gardaí raided a business premises as part of Operation Tara Gardaí have seized €2m worth of cannabis herb in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 today. Gardaí raided a business premises as part of Operation Tara. The searches were carried out by Gardaí from Ballyfermot Garda Station, Clondalkin Community Engagement Area, and Detective Gardaí from Serious Crime South. The drugs seized are now subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. . News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Gardai say there were no arrests and investigations are ongoing. Operation Tara is the enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels – international, national, and local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale, and supply of controlled drugs.
Irish Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ted Bundy uttered 12 chilling final words as he was led to electric chair
By the time Theodore Robert Bundy, infamous as Ted Bundy, was led into the room housing 'Old Sparky', Florida's notorious electric chair, he seemed to have come to terms with his impending demise. Leading up to his state-sanctioned execution, the convicted killer no longer exhibited his usual bravado but instead, looked sombre as he approached the death chamber. The LA Times reported that Bundy had spent the night before weeping and praying in the run-up to what would be his last hours. Bundy's charm fascinated the American public; many viewed him as an enigmatic figure. Ann Rule, his biographer and former police officer, branded him a "sadistic sociopath" revelling in others' pain. Yet, ironic was her failure to see through him when they both volunteered at Seattle's Suicide Hotline Crisis Center in 1971, years before Bundy's initial arrest, reports the Mirror US. In her work, 'The Stranger Beside Me', Rule painted a picture of Bundy during their acquaintance as "kind, solicitous, and empathetic". Such characteristics sharply contrasted the man behind heinous acts of femicide, which, alongside Bundy's bold antics in court, underscored his prowess in masking his true self. Throughout his life, Bundy was handed three death sentences. He managed to postpone the inevitable through a series of cunning tactics over this extended period, including a successful escape and some shrewd legal manoeuvring. Bundy utilised various strategies that led to prolonged proceedings, and the prosecution, who were initially open to removing the death penalty in exchange for a lengthy sentence spanning several decades, grew weary of his tactics. By the time he reached his final trial in 1980, prosecutors were resolute in their desire for Bundy to face his end in their state's most lethal chair. In many respects, the trial was groundbreaking, with coverage from 250 journalists from five continents, marking it as the first televised trial in the United States. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, as if Bundy's long-awaited justice was finally on the horizon. Despite having five court-appointed lawyers, Bundy conducted much of his own defence, seizing the opportunity to grandstand before the cameras. At times, the courtroom drama seemed more akin to a soap opera than a criminal trial with a defendant facing the death penalty. Bundy was highly intelligent, but his showboating, delusions of grandeur and persistent need to maintain control ultimately worked against him. He wasn't just content with dragging out proceedings, Bundy also took advantage of an obscure Florida law to propose to girlfriend and witness Carole Ann Boone, who accepted, from the stand. The unorthodox Florida law dictated a marriage declaration provided in court, in the presence of a judge, constituted a legal marriage. After Boone accepted - to the shock of many - Bundy announced that they were legally wed right there in the courtroom, turning the trial into even more of a media circus. As his sentence was handed down, he reportedly stood up and declared, "Tell the jury they were wrong!". Bundy's enigmatic character fascinated the public to the extent that approximately 500 folk gathered outside the north Florida jail on January 24, 1989, eagerly anticipating news of his end, while numerous others were glued to media updates. Refusing his final meal, Bundy was led to the electric chair where he spent his last moments, with the preparation process witnessed by 42 individuals. In the lead-up to his execution, which was slated for around 7:15 pm, Superintendent Tom Barton offered Bundy one last chance to speak. With little time left and as preparations for his death sentence neared completion, Bundy briefly hesitated before addressing Jim Coleman, one of his attorneys, and Fred Lawrence, the Methodist minister who had prayed with him the previous evening. The man facing his imminent demise left a final message with them, stating: "I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends." A broad strap was then secured across Bundy's mouth and chin, followed by the chair's metal skullcap being firmly fastened into place. A heavy, black veil was draped over his face, concealing it from view. Barton gave the signal, and an unnamed executioner pressed the button, unleashing two thousand volts of electricity through the chair's wires. Bundy's body tensed from the voltage, and his hands clenched into fists as a small plume of smoke rose from his right leg. After a minute, the machine was switched off, and his body went limp. A paramedic opened Bundy's blue shirt to check for a heartbeat, while another man shone a light into his eyes. At 7:16 am, it was official: Ted Bundy was pronounced dead, prompting cheers from the crowd outside the prison. Shortly after, the witnesses to Bundy's execution filed out of the facility in a somber mood. Some appeared taken aback by the jubilation unfolding before them in the chilly morning air. "Regardless of what Bundy did, he was still a human being," remarked Jim Sewell, the police chief of Gulfport, Florida, who had witnessed the serial killer's demise. Even Sewell, fresh from the shock of witnessing the execution, felt a profound sense of relief that Bundy was dead – a sentiment that seemed to resonate with many across the nation, particularly women who now had one less ruthless predator to fear in their daily lives. (Note: The original text is already written in a style consistent with British English conventions, and only minor adjustments were made to maintain the same tone and style. ).
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Donald Trump calls for special prosecutor to investigate 2020 election
President Donald Trump has called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden, repeating his baseless claim that the contest was marred by widespread fraud. 'Biden was grossly incompetent, and the 2020 election was a total FRAUD!' Mr Trump said in a social media post in which he also sought to favourably contrast his immigration enforcement approach with that of the former president. 'The evidence is MASSIVE and OVERWHELMING. A Special Prosecutor must be appointed. This cannot be allowed to happen again in the United States of America! Let the work begin!' Donald Trump has also instructed his administration to investigate Joe Biden's actions as president, alleging aides masked his 'cognitive decline' (David J Phillip/AP) Mr Trump's post, made as his Republican White House is consumed by a hugely substantial foreign policy decision on whether to get directly involved in the Israel-Iran war, is part of an amped-up effort by him to undermine the legitimacy of Mr Biden's presidency. Earlier this month, Mr Trump directed his administration to investigate Mr Biden's actions as president, alleging aides masked his predecessor's 'cognitive decline'. Mr Biden has dismissed the investigation as 'a mere distraction'. The post also revives a long-running grievance by Mr Trump that the election was stolen even though courts around the country and a Trump attorney general from his first term found no evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome. The Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity arm pronounced the election 'the most secure in American history'. President Donald Trump (Alex Brandon/AP) It was unclear what Mr Trump had in mind when he called for a special prosecutor, but in the event Attorney General Pam Bondi heeds his call, she may face pressure to appoint someone who has already been confirmed by the Senate. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on Friday. The Justice Department has appointed a succession of special counsels in recent years — sometimes, though not always, plucked from outside the agency — to lead investigations into politically sensitive matters, including into conduct by Mr Biden and by Mr Trump. Last year, Mr Trump's personal lawyers launched an aggressive, and successful, challenge to the appointment of Jack Smith, the special counsel assigned to investigate his efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election and his retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. A Trump-appointed judge agreed, ruling that then-Attorney General Merrick Garland had exceeded his bounds by appointing a prosecutor without Senate approval and confirmation, and dismissed the case. That legal team included Todd Blanche, who is now deputy attorney general, as well as Emil Bove, who is Mr Blanche's top deputy but was recently nominated to serve as a judge on a federal appeals court.
