Jury in Tipperary murder trial told accused was seen 'headbutting' victim's daughter

The trial of a man accused of murdering Nenagh grandmother Josephine “Josie” Ray has heard he headbutted her daughter on the evening before she was murdered.

Hasan Ali Gori, aged 52, with an address at St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 89-year-old who was found dead at her home on the morning of August 4, 2024.

On Frday, the jury heard from Louise Walsh, who had lived next door to Ms Ray, in St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh from 2009 to 2015, before later moving to another house.

She described how her daughter frequently visited Ms Ray and Mary Ray, when they lived next door. She noted how her daughter and Mary Ray “connected” with each other.

Senior Counsel for the prosecution, Lorcan Connolly, asked Ms Walsh to recall the events she witnessed on the evening of Friday, August 2, 2024. She noted how the accused and Mary Ray were arguing and how Ms Ray seemed “agitated”.

Ms Walsh was then questioned by Aidan Doyle SC, representing Mr Ali Gori, about occasions where Mary Ray had travelled to Limerick in the past to meet men. Ms Walsh explained how “Mary was going in to meet fellas” adding how her mother, Josephine Ray, would follow her.

“Josie always wanted to try to protect her,” she noted.

The witness also recounted a time when she saw Ms Ray staying overnight at a bus stop in Limerick, describing how she would stay where she could be close to her daughter.

She also noted Ms Ray and Mary Ray would argue about this matter.

The jury also heard from Charlotte Moran, the partner of Ms Ray’s grandson, Daniel O’Brien.

Ms Moran stated how on the evening of Saturday, August 3 she was at her partner’s home in St Joseph’s Park, when herself, her sister and two others walked past Ms Ray’s home.

She recounted how she saw Ms Ray come out of the house saying how she was “sick of all the fighting and arguing" adding how she “just came out crying” and said how it seemed like “she was having a panic attack”.

Ms Moran told the court how Ms Ray was then taken to the home of her daughter, Carmel in St Joseph’s Park.

Ms Moran then described how she saw the defendant and Mary Ray having a conversation and how Mr Ali Gori leaned in and "gave her a headbutt into the face” whilst sitting on the bench.

She noted how she heard a “faint cry” from Mary Ray for a couple of seconds after the incident.

The witness then went on to recount how she heard the defendant say “no one will murder me”. She noted how she heard the statement “pure, clear and loud” and heard it repeated about “four times”

Ms Moran was then questioned by Mr Doyle who suggested she may have misheard the statement made by Mr Ali Gori, due to his “ strong African accent”.

The barrister also noted how the faint cry Ms Moran mentioned after the headbutting incident was not much of a reaction to such an event.

“I’m suggesting this did not happen” stated Mr Doyle in relation to the statement Ms Moran heard and the headbutting incident.

Ms Moran said she is “one-hundred percent sure” of the events saying: “I can really remember it like it was yesterday”.

The jury also heard testimony on Friday from two others who knew Ms Ray.

The trial, before Mr Justice Seán Gillane, resumes on Tuesday, October 27.