Dublin man on trial for father's murder after body left decomposing for a week

Seth Whelan (36) faces murder charges after his father Michael Whelan (64) was found stabbed 43 times in their Rialto flat. The body lay undiscovered for approximately one week.

Dublin murder trial: father found stabbed 43 times in Rialto flat

A Dublin man left his father's decomposing body on the floor of their shared flat for approximately one week after crushing his skull and stabbing him 43 times, the Central Criminal Court heard on Monday, as reported by Irish Independent.

Seth Whelan (36), of Herberton Park, Rialto, Dublin 8, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his father, Michael Whelan (64). When arraigned earlier this week, the accused responded "I don't know" to the murder charge. His barrister entered a formal not guilty plea on his behalf.

Body discovered after neighbour raised alarm

Prosecuting senior counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor told the jury of six men and six women that gardaí found Michael Whelan's body on the floor of the flat on February 27th, 2024. A neighbour had contacted gardaí to request a welfare check after noticing he had not seen the older man for several days.

Upon arrival, gardaí detected a putrid smell from the decomposing body. Once inside, they could immediately see that Michael Whelan had met a violent death. He was lying on his back, surrounded by extensive blood staining.

CCTV places accused as sole occupant

Seth Whelan arrived at the flat while gardaí were still present. Ms Lawlor told the jury they would hear evidence about his demeanour and what he said at that moment.

Gardaí found no evidence of forced entry to the flat. CCTV footage subsequently established that Seth Whelan was the only person to enter or leave the property during the week prior to the discovery. Investigators also determined that Michael Whelan was last seen alive entering the flat on February 19th — eight days before his body was found.

Blunt force and 43 stab wounds

A pathologist will tell the trial that Michael Whelan died from blunt force trauma to the head and two stab wounds that penetrated his heart and lungs. A further 41 stab wounds were inflicted after death, Ms Lawlor said.

She described the deceased's skull and face as having been "crushed in" and asked the jury to consider that the severity of the injuries indicated an intention to cause death.

The pathologist estimated the body had lain dead for approximately one week, placing the time of death at February 19th or 20th.

Message sent while father lay dead

During the period between the alleged date of death and the discovery of the body, Ms Lawlor said Seth Whelan sent a message to an acquaintance stating that his father had died. She told the jury this message, along with others sent during the same period, would be relevant given that in garda interviews, Whelan denied knowing his father was dead.

No mental disorder to be raised

Ms Lawlor informed the jury that no evidence would be presented suggesting Seth Whelan was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of his father's death. She explicitly stated that a defence of legal insanity would not arise in the case.

"I want to be clear, lest there be any misapprehension, that does not arise in this case," she told the jury. "That is not something you are going to be asked to look at."

Second charge of criminal damage

Seth Whelan also faces a separate charge of criminal damage to a Ring doorbell belonging to a neighbour on February 20th, 2024. A not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf for that charge as well. Ms Lawlor said video footage will establish that Whelan damaged the device, and the jury will be shown evidence suggesting a possible motive for doing so.

The trial is continuing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.

Source: Irish Independent