Gillian Curran's blood alcohol level ruled not contributory to death at Marcus O'Neill murder trial
Gillian Curran, a 47-year-old woman from Tramore, was found dead at the home of her partner Marcus O'Neill, a 35-year-old man of O'Brien Street, Waterford, on the morning of 25 January 2025. O'Neill told emergency services the couple had been drinking the night before and that Curran had fallen several times before falling down the stairs, where he found her. A postmortem found 143 external and more than 20 internal injuries, with the State Pathologist ruling the overall pattern more consistent with a sustained assault and the cause of death as multiple blunt-force traumatic injuries to the head and abdomen. Curran's blood alcohol level of 309mg per 100ml was ruled not a contributory factor in her death. O'Neill, who denies the murder, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Waterford before Judge Caroline Biggs, with the State Pathologist's evidence on the injuries and toxicology having been presented to the jury.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court9 Jul
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- O'Neill told emergency services the couple had been drinking the night before and Curran had fallen several times before falling down the stairs, where he found her the following morning.
- Where
- Curran was found dead at O'Neill's home on O'Brien Street, Waterford, and pronounced dead at the scene at 10:23am on 25 January 2025 by Dr Paul Campbell.
- When
- The incident occurred on the night of 24 January 2025 and Curran was pronounced dead on the morning of 25 January 2025.
- Cause
- State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers said Curran died from multiple blunt-force traumatic injuries to the head and abdomen.
- Other details
- The postmortem found 143 external bruise and abrasion injuries and more than 20 internal injuries, with the overall pattern more consistent with a sustained assault.
- The scalp bruise resulted from blunt force trauma from punches or kicks and could not have resulted from a fall.
- Bruising around both eyes resulted from a punch, and neck abrasions could have been caused by manual compression at the front, sides and back of the neck.
- Curran's blood alcohol concentration was 309mg per 100ml, which the State Pathologist said was not a contributory factor in her death.
- O'Neill was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries including a swollen right fist, which he said he sustained from punching a wall on 23 January.
- O'Neill denied assaulting Curran or having major arguments but admitted a minor disagreement over attending a local credit union.
- Charges
- O'Neill was charged with the murder of Curran and denies the charge.
- In court
- The trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Waterford before Judge Caroline Biggs and a jury of five men and seven women, expected to run for two to three weeks.
28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatO'Neill told emergency services the couple had been drinking the night before and Curran had fallen several times before falling down the stairs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Neill told the paramedic they had been drinking the previous night and she had fallen a few times, hit her head, and fallen downstairs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCurran had struggled with alcohol addiction throughout her life. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEmergency services were unable to resuscitate Curran. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Neill was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries including a swollen right fist, which he said he sustained from punching a wall on 23 January. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Neill denied assaulting Curran or having major arguments but admitted a minor disagreement over attending a local credit union. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Neill told gardaí she had suffered a number of falls the night before while drinking and he awoke to find her after she had fallen down the stairs (irishtimes.com)
- whatInvestigators told the State Pathologist that Curran had been drinking on the night of January 24th and fell off a sofa several times (irishtimes.com)
- whatBlood stains had been found upstairs on the frame of a bedroom door, on the wall of the stairs and on the banister of the stairs (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman suffered a series of bruises and abrasions, the vast majority of which were less than 24 hours old (irishtimes.com)
- whatBruising around both eyes resulted from either a punch or a fracture of the skull, and she had not suffered a fracture of the skull (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe neck abrasions could have been caused by fingernails during manual compression at the front, sides and back of the neck from mild to moderate pressure during gripping (irishtimes.com)
- whereCurran's body was removed to University Hospital Waterford for a postmortem examination. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe postmortem was carried out at University Hospital Waterford on January 26th (irishtimes.com)
- whenCurran was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:23am by Dr Paul Campbell. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe woman was pronounced dead at 10.23am on January 25th by Dr Paul Campbell (irishtimes.com)
- causeState Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers said Curran died from multiple blunt-force traumatic injuries to the head and abdomen. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe blood alcohol level was not a contributory factor in her death. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to run for two to three weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case continues before a jury of five men and seven women and Judge Caroline Biggs. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before a jury of five men and seven women at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Waterford (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCurran was a chronic alcohol user with a blood alcohol concentration of 309mg per 100ml. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe postmortem found 143 external bruise and abrasion injuries and more than 20 internal injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCurran suffered a diffuse full thickness bruise to her scalp that extended all over the scalp. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe scalp bruise resulted from blunt force trauma from punches or kicks and could not have resulted from a fall. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jul2026Gillian Curran’s blood alcohol level not a contributory factor in her death, trial hears
Trial evidence from State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers on toxicology and postmortem findings; O'Neill's account of events cross-examined by defence counsel Roisin Lacey.
victim, Gillian Curran, 47, female, irish (judged from name)Gillian Curranaccused, male, irish (judged from name) - 23 Jul2026Gillian Curran’s pattern of injuries were more consistent with assault, murder trial hears
State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers gave detailed evidence on the 118 injuries, stating the overall pattern was consistent with a sustained assault, with bruising around both eyes from a punch and neck abrasions from manual compression by a hand or cloth.
victim, Gillian Curran, 47, female, irish (judged from name)Gillian Curranaccused, male, irish (judged from name) - 9 Jul2026Murder accused told paramedics Gillian Curran had several falls before death
Details of the 999 call recording played to the jury, the prosecution's opening statement outlining the evidence and the issue for the jury, and the State Pathologist's findings on cause of death.
victim, Gillian Curran, 47, female, irish (judged from name)Gillian Curranaccused, 35, male, irish (judged from name)