‘It’s over now’: Jury in Tipperary murder trial hears audio recordings from argument
Audio from an argument between Josephine Ray’s daughter and the accused - Hasan Ali Gori - from the night before she was found dead, played in Central Criminal Court
Clips from a three-hour long recording from the night before Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray was found dead, have been played for the jury in the trial of the man accused of her murder.
Hasan Ali Gori has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 89-year-old grandmother at her home in St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, County Tipperary on August 4, 2024.
The 52-year-old accused, who is originally from Chad, was residing at the 91 St Joseph’s Park at the time of the murder and was in a relationship with Ms Ray’s daughter, Mary Ray, who has an intellectual disability. The pair had been in a relationship since meeting, in Galway, in 2014
The prosecution case, which is being led by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, is that the accused, Mr Ali Gori, strangled and suffocated the pensioner in the bedroom of her home .
The jury has been told the recordings which began at 8:02 pm and ended at 11:34 pm on Saturday, August 3 2024, were found on the phone of Mr Ali Gori, when it was forensically examined by Garda Eoin Sheehan.
Clips were played to Mr Ali Gori during interviews at Nenagh garda station after he was re-arrested on foot of a warrant on July 3, 2025. Mr Ali Gori told gardaí that he did not recall the recording being taken. “I don’t do any recording here”.
Clips from the recording were played in court on Friday.
In one clip, beginning at 8:02 pm, which was four minutes and seven seconds long, Mary Ray and the accused can be heard arguing. Mary can be heard saying "prostitutes" as the pair continued their quarrel.
In the audio recording, Mary Ray can also be hearing saying “it's over now”.
The interview transcripts from July 2025, note that Mr Ali Gori confirmed it was him and his partner Mary Ray arguing saying: “Mary, my lady, and me”. He also told detectives “I serve her like a queen” and “she doesn't appreciate me”.
The jury heard Mary Ray and the accused continue arguing in a further clip from the recording. Mary Ray appears upset in the audio and can be heard raising her voice and crying, whilst Mr Ali Gori also raises his voice.
At one point the accused can be heard saying: “The council will give me my house”.
The jury were also shown a video clip from an interview at Nenagh garda station with Mr Ali Gori and detective gardaí, including Detective Garda, Conor Gleeson.
The detective gardaí can be heard saying “you said murder her” to Mr Ali Gori , referencing a line from the recorded argument, which it’s alleged was a reference to Mary Ray’s mother, Josephine.
The accused told the detectives: “I did not say murder her,” adding: “Since I have lived with Mary, I have not said murder her.”
Detective Garda Gleeson, said to Mr Ali Gori during the interview: “I have excellent hearing, I know what I heard,” when the accused denied saying “murder her”.
Another aspect of the recorded argument where Mary Ray said “she can’t stick” the accused was highlighted in the interview transcripts.
Mr Ali Gori responded by stating: “Women are never satisfied, Mary is one of those.” He continued by saying if she had wanted him to leave he would have went to a hostel.
The accused said he did not recall the argument being recorded.
As the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick came to a close on Friday afternoon, Mr Justice Séan Gillane, who is presiding over the trial told the jury there is “ good reasonable prospect you could be deliberating at some stage next week”.
He then dismissed the jury and rose for the weekend.
The trial continues on Monday, November 2.