Jury in murder trial hears from neighbours of Nenagh women Josephine Ray
Neighbours and friends of Josephine Ray give evidence in murder trial of Hasan Ali Gori
A jury has heard further evidence from neighbours and friends of Tipperary grandmother Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray, who was found dead in her home in Nenagh on the morning of Sunday, August 4, 2024.
At the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick, presided over by Mr Justice Séan Gillane, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, originally from Chad, and with an address at St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 89-year-old grandmother.
This Thursday, the jury heard evidence from Mark McGee, who was born and raised in St Joseph’s Park. Mr McGee noted how he had known Josephine “well” and “all my life”.
During his witness testimony Mr McGee referred to an incident that had occurred at St Joseph's Park prior to Ms Ray's death. The witness described how he was visiting a friend’s home, next door to Ms Ray's home, when he heard shouting from outside Ms Ray’s home.
The court heard how Mary Ray and the accused, Mr Ali Gori, whom she was in a relationship with at the time, were having an argument outside the house. The jury was told that the incident occurred at approximately three o’clock in the afternoon and that Ms Ray was also present and was noted to be “tapping her walking stick” as the pair argued.
Further in his testimony Mr McGee noted a conversation he overheard when he was leaving his friend’s home that night at approximately 10pm. He stated how he overheard Mary Ray and Mr Ali Gori talking on a bench outside the home.
He said he heard the accused say: “ Either he has to go or Josie has to leave the house and go” and how he was “sick of it” and couldn’t handle it anymore.
Mr McGee noted how he then walked home to his own house and stayed home.
The jury then heard from a next door neighbour of Ms Ray, Ian Donellan, who had been living in St Joseph’s Park for seven years at the time of her death.
When questioned by prosecuting counsel, David Humphreys BL, Mr Donellan described how it was “harder to find a day there wasn’t an argument” between the occupants of Ms Ray’s home in St Joseph’s Park.
Mr Donellan noted an incident that occurred in July 2024 where he heard “shouting” and “banging” coming from Ms Ray’s home. Mr Donellan mentioned how he reported the issue to an Gardaí Síochana and how he saw them arrive at Ms Ray's daughter, Carmel’s, home.
The witness also noted another occasion where he recorded an argument taking place outside Ms Ray’s home. The jury was shown a video recorded by Mr Donellan, who noted he recorded it because “they were at it again”.
Gemma Donellan also took to the witness stand to give testimony of the events she witnessed on the morning of Sunday, August 4. She explained to the jury how she saw a crowd gathered outside the home of Ms Ray and noted Mary Ray, Mr Ali Gori, Mary’s son Samuel and his partner were among those gathered.
Ms Donellan recounted how Mr Ali Gori told Mary to “shut up” and “calm down” before saying “she was old and was going to die anyway”.
Ms Donellan also noted how Ms Ray’s family were “more focused” on Mary Ray and were “trying to protect her from saying something she shouldn’t”.
She further noted how Samuel’s partner “just randomly gave Mary a hug”.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Seán Gillane.