Jury hears from relatives of Tipperary grandmother found dead at her home
The body of Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray was found at her home in Nenagh more than two years ago
A JURY has heard evidence from a number of relatives of Tipperary grandmother Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray who was found dead at her home in Nenagh more than two years ago.
At the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, originally from Chad, and with an address at St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, has pleaded not guilty to murdering of Josie Ray on August 4, 2024.
At the time, Ali Gori was in a relationship with Josie Ray’s daughter, Mary Ray, who the court heard was vulnerable after she was born with an intellectual disability, and she often struggled with relationships.
Earlier this week, Lorcan Connolly SC, representing the DPP, told the jury it is the prosecution case that the 89-year-old was “smothered and strangled" while in her bed.
Ms Ray’s daughter, Carmel Ray, was called as a witness this Wednesday.
During her witness testimony, she described how she “didn’t really have a relationship with her mother”. The court earlier heard how Ms Ray, a mother of five, had an affair with the children's uncle, which ultimately led to Ms Ray separating from her husband.
Mary Ray who was in a relationship with the defendant at the the time of Ms Ray’s death, remained with her mother, Josephine, whilst Carmel and the remaining sisters moved out of the family home, with their father, Patrick.
The witness described the relationship between her sister, Mary and her mother, saying “my mother always protected her, she knew she needed special care”.
She noted how Mary, who is said to have a learning disability, “was special” to her mother.
Carmel Ray described her sister, Mary, as “very kind” with “a good heart” before adding how “she was very easily led all the time”.
Another daughter of Ms Ray, Sarah Ray, also took to the witness box. She noted how her sister, Mary and Mr Ali Gori were always “fighting over everything”.
The witness described how Ms Ray “wasn’t able for it at all” and how “she was nervous”.
Daniel O’Brien, a grandson of Ms Ray, told the jury how other than a recent hip fracture, his grandmother was “in great health” prior to her death.
Mr O’Brien mentioned how his grandmother resided at his and his mother’s home, at 79 St Joseph’s Park, whilst she recovered from her hip fracture. She later moved back into her home at St Joseph’s Park, with her daughter and the accused.
He described Ms Ray as a “very social” person.
When asked about the relationship between Ms Ray and her daughter’s partner, Mr Ali Gori, he described it as “not great, bad” adding, “there was always at least a fight a day”.
The court also heard from two paramedics from the National Ambulance Service who attended the scene of the incident on the morning of Sunday, August 4.
Declan Hart, one of the paramedics present at the scene said he conducted a preliminary examination and noted a "contusion around the left eye” of Ms Ray stating: “We suspected she had not died of natural causes”.
Garda Lindsay O’Callaghan, who also attended the scene that day, told the court she observed a bruise under the left eye of Ms Ray as well as “red substance on her hairline” and blood on the right hand side of the pillow.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Seán Gillane.