DNA breakthrough in 1997 murder case

The trial has opened of a 42-year-old man charged with the murders 17 years ago of two women who lived in sheltered accommodation in Dublin.

Mark Nash has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields, 59, and Mary Callanan, 61, who lived in a house attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman between 6 March and 7 March 1997.

The Central Criminal Court was told that DNA samples from the two women were found on Mr Nash's jacket as a result of new tests at the forensic science laboratory in 2009.

The jury was also told that Mr Nash, whohadlast addresses at Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin,had confessed to garda that he had carried out the murders,but subsequently withdrew those admissions.

In its opening statement to the court today, the prosecution told the jury that the two pillars of evidence against Mr Nash are his own admissions and DNA analysis.

The bodies of Ms Shields and Ms Callanan were discovered in sheltered accommodation ina house attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital on 7 March 1997.

The court heard their bodies were badly mutilated.

Both were partially clad, both suffered multiple stab wounds and the weapons used were from the kitchen - serrated blades, a knife, a large carving knife and a carving fork.

During his detention for another crime, the court heard that Mr Nash admitted killing the two women. He told garda he had been walking home in Dublin,went into the house and stabbed them in their sleep.

"My mind was disturbed at the time", the court heard he said, "you have to understand that".

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DNA breakthrough in 1997 murder case