Case No. 0035Murder · Co. Tipperary · 4 Aug 2024
Murder trial opens for 89-year-old woman strangled in Nenagh
Josephine Ray, 89, was smothered and strangled to death in her bed at her home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on 4 August 2024. Hasan Ali Gori, 52, from Chad, who was in a relationship with her daughter Mary Ray and living in the house, has been charged with her murder. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, Limerick, where the trial opened in October 2026 before Mr Justice Seán Gillane. The prosecution alleges he suffocated and strangled her after a row, and the trial is expected to last four weeks.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Oct
9 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Josephine Ray, 89, was smothered and strangled to death while in bed at her home.
- Where
- The murder took place at 91 St Joseph's Park, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
- When
- The murder occurred on Sunday 4 August 2024; she was last seen alive at 2am outside her home smoking a cigarette and was found dead in her bed later that morning.
- Cause
- The cause of death was asphyxia caused by external pressure on her neck, with inward fractures from compression.
- Investigation
- DNA matching the accused was found on the victim's fingernails.
- Charges
- Hasan Ali Gori, 52, from Chad, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murdering Josephine Ray.
- In court
- The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, Limerick, before Mr Justice Seán Gillane, with a jury of nine men and three women, and is expected to last four weeks.
- Other details
- Ali Gori was in a relationship with the victim's daughter Mary Ray, 55, who has an intellectual disability, and had moved in with them at the house.
- The prosecution alleged a close physical struggle took place after a row and that Ali Gori was dependent on the Ray family for accommodation.
- Neighbours and family members testified to regular arguments in the household, and grandchildren had previously alerted gardaí and social services about safety concerns for Josie Ray.
- The local authority sent letters to the family in April 2024 about unauthorised occupancy of the council tenancy.
- Ali Gori appeared in court with the assistance of an interpreter.
102 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJosephine Ray was smothered and strangled to death while in bed at her home (rte.ie)
- whatThe cause of death was asphyxia caused by external pressure on her neck (rte.ie)
- whatMs Ray was last seen alive at 2am on 4 August 2024 outside her home smoking a cigarette (rte.ie)
- whatMs Ray was found dead in her bed later that morning (rte.ie)
- whatThe accused had been in a relationship with Mary Ray since 2014 (rte.ie)
- whatThe accused moved in with the deceased and her daughter at 91 St Joseph's Park (rte.ie)
- whatMs Ray was a mother of five who had been living with her daughter Mary since the 1980s (rte.ie)
- whatThe prosecution alleged a close physical struggle took place. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn August 2024 there was a fractious atmosphere in the house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJosie Ray was not suffering from any acute medical condition before her death. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe had been recovering from a broken hip in early 2024 and was sleeping in a downstairs front room. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJosie Ray was described as a small, frail, 89-year-old lady. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatInward fractures were caused by the compression of the neck (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHasan Ali Gori is a native of Chad, Africa (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHasan Ali Gori was using the services of an interpreter in court (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMary Ray was 55 years old at the time of the alleged murder (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHasan Ali Gori and Mary Ray shared an upstairs bedroom (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJosie Ray was not suffering from any acute medical condition prior to her death (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJosie Ray had been recovering from a broken hip in early 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe broken hip left Josie Ray unable to walk upstairs (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJosie Ray was sleeping in a downstairs front room in her home (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJosie Ray returned to her home uninjured, well and normal (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe prosecution case is that Ali Gori suffocated and strangled Josie Ray in her bed after they rowed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAli Gori told Mary Ray that either he or Josie would have to leave the house (irishtimes.com)
- whatJosie Ray was found strangled and suffocated in her bed on 4 August 2024 (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- whatMary Ray accused Ali Gori of cheating on her (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sound of a child becoming distressed was in the recording (irishtimes.com)
- whatDonnellan recognised the male voice in the recording as the accused (irishtimes.com)
- whatA neighbour overheard the accused tell the victim's daughter that either he or Josie had to leave the house (rte.ie)
- whatThe accused told the victim's daughter he was sick of the arguing and could not take it anymore (rte.ie)
- whatEarlier that afternoon the accused, Mary Ray and Josie Ray were arguing outside the property (rte.ie)
- whatMary Ray accused the accused of cheating on her (rte.ie)
- whatA neighbour said the accused, Mary Ray and Josie Ray argued every day (rte.ie)
- whatA neighbour saw the victim with a red mark on the right side of her face and described her as distressed and afraid (rte.ie)
- whatA neighbour recorded a Snapchat video of shouting and roaring from the house the day before the victim's death (rte.ie)
- whatIn the recording a male voice was heard shouting 'fuck off, fuck off' and a child became distressed (rte.ie)
- whatThe accused told the victim's daughter that Josie was old and was going to die anyway (rte.ie)
- whatTwo of the victim's grandchildren contacted gardaí, social workers and their local council about concerns for her safety (rte.ie)
- whatA daughter of the deceased pensioner previously threatened to stab her with a knife (irishtimes.com)
- whatMoran saw Ali Gori shoving Mary (irishtimes.com)
- whatJosephine Ray was 89 years old at the time of her death. (rte.ie)
- whatShe was found strangled and suffocated in her bed on 4 August 2024. (rte.ie)
- whatHasan Ali Gori is 52 years old. (rte.ie)
- whatHasan Ali Gori is originally from Chad. (rte.ie)
- whatMr Ali Gori was in a relationship with the victim's daughter, Mary Ray. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim and her daughter were long-standing council tenants. (rte.ie)
- whatNeighbours raised concerns about someone living illegally in the house in April 2024. (rte.ie)
- whatMr O'Brien felt Josephine Ray was nervous talking to him. (rte.ie)
- whatA letter was sent to Ms Ray outlining complaints about anti-social behaviour and unauthorised occupancy. (rte.ie)
- whatThe letter informed Ms Ray that such incidences put her tenancy at risk. (rte.ie)
- whatThe family was advised to tell Ms Ray she should get a barring order. (rte.ie)
- whatThe family said it was unlikely the elderly woman would get a barring order. (rte.ie)
- whatAnother letter was sent to inform Ms Ray she was in breach of her tenancy because of the illegal occupancy. (rte.ie)
- whatGarda Aoife Shine spoke with Mary Ray in the hallway, who was upset because her partner was looking and talking to prostitutes on his phone. (rte.ie)
- whatMr Ali Gori arrived into the kitchen and seemed annoyed and frustrated. (rte.ie)
- whatThere was no allegation of anything physical during the domestic disturbance call. (rte.ie)
- whatMary Ray indicated she was happy for Mr Ali Gori to remain in the house. (rte.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at an address in Nenagh (rte.ie)
- whereThe victim lived at St Joseph's Park, Nenagh. (rte.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on Sunday 4 August 2024 (rte.ie)
- whenThe alleged murder took place on 4 August 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenNeighbours saw Josie Ray smoking a cigarette outside her house after 2am the morning of her death (irishmirror.ie)
- causeJosie Ray died by asphyxiation after external compression of her neck. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- causeJosie Ray was smothered and strangled (irishmirror.ie)
- causeShe was allegedly suffocated and strangled (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDNA matching the accused was found on the victim's fingernails. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGrandchildren had previously alerted gardaí and social services about concerns for Josie Ray's safety (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí arrived to calm the situation during the argument (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHasan Ali Gori pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Ray (rte.ie)
- chargeThe prosecution case is that Ali Gori strangled and suffocated Josie Ray (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHasan Ali Gori pleaded not guilty to the murder charge (rte.ie)
- chargeHasan Ali Gori pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Ray. (rte.ie)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick (rte.ie)
- courtThe trial is presided over by Mr Justice Seán Gillane (rte.ie)
- courtThe trial is expected to last four weeks (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury consisted of nine men and three women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA 999 call made by the witness to emergency services was played in court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being held at the Central Criminal Court, Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Sean Gillane (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury consists of nine men and three women (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecuting barrister is senior counsel Lorcan Connolly (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is due to last up to four weeks and continues Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Sean Gillane and a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick (rte.ie)
- courtGori pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, to a single charge of murdering Ray (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused appeared with the assistance of an interpreter (rte.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said Ali Gori was dependent on the Ray family for accommodation and had motive and opportunity to murder Josie Ray. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFrances Ray warned her sister that she and the accused could be evicted from the local authority home if their rows continued. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHasan Ali Gori is 52 and originally from Chad, Africa (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Brien witnessed a lot of arguments involving Josie, her daughter Mary, and the accused (irishtimes.com)
- otherHasan Ali Gori is originally from Chad, Africa (irishtimes.com)
- otherAli Gori was in a relationship with Mary Ray (irishtimes.com)
- otherMary Ray has an intellectual disability (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- otherThe victim's daughter Mary Ray has an intellectual disability (rte.ie)
- otherThe victim was very protective of her daughter and did not approve of her relationship with the accused (rte.ie)
- otherJosie Ray did not approve of Mary having relationships with men and bringing them back to her house (irishtimes.com)
- otherLouise Walsh said Josie was very protective of Mary because of her intellectual disability and would chaperone her when she travelled by bus to meet men in Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- otherJosie Ray would sometimes sleep rough on benches in Limerick waiting for Mary if she spent the night in the city (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Oct2026Woman was contacted over illegal occupancy of accused
Trial evidence about council tenancy concerns raised in April 2024, letters sent to Ray about unauthorised occupancy, and a domestic disturbance call at the house on the evening of 3 August 2024, the day before the murder.
victim, Josephine 'Josie' Ray, 89, female, irish (judged from name)Josephine 'Josie' Rayaccused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 23 Oct2026Josie Ray murder accused allegedly headbutted her daughter night before, court hears
Trial evidence heard on Friday including witness Charlotte Moran's account of Gori headbutting and shoving Mary Ray the night before the killing, Gori shouting 'No one will murder me' four times, and two grandchildren testifying they had contacted gardaí, social workers and their local authority about welfare concerns before Josie Ray's death.
victim, Josephine Ray, 89, female, irish (judged from name)Josephine Rayaccused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 22 Oct2026Murder accused heard saying victim 'had to leave' home
Neighbour testimony about daily arguments, the accused's statement that either he or Josie had to leave, a red mark on the victim's face, a Snapchat recording of shouting, and DNA evidence under the victim's fingernails matching the accused.
accused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gorivictim, Josephine "Josie" Ray, 89, female, irish (judged from name)Josephine "Josie" Ray - 22 Oct2026Josie Ray murder accused told her daughter one of them would have to leave, court hears
Neighbour testimony about daily arguments, Ali Gori's statement to Mary Ray the night before the murder, a red mark on Josie Ray's face two weeks before her death, and a Snapchat recording of shouting played to the court.
victim, Josephine Ray, 89, female, irish (judged from name)Josephine Rayaccused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 21 Oct2026Josie Ray’s grandchildren had told gardaí of safety concerns before her death, court hears
Court heard testimony from grandchildren Rosie O'Brien and Daniel O'Brien, and daughters Sarah Ray and Carmel Ray, about safety concerns, arguments, and the household dynamics in the months before Josie Ray's death, including a phone call to gardaí on the night before she was found dead.
victim, 89, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 20 Oct2026Elderly woman and man accused of her murder had regularly argued, court hears
Trial evidence from Frances Ray about regular arguments in the household, the prosecution's case that Ali Gori suffocated and strangled Josie Ray after a row, details about the accused's relationship with Mary Ray, and the court's finding that Josie Ray was fully independent and in good health before her death.
victim, 89, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 20 Oct2026Murder trial: Man accused of smothering partner's elderly mother Josephine Ray
Trial opened at Central Criminal Court, Limerick; prosecution outlined circumstantial case including DNA on victim's fingernails, asphyxiation by external compression, and motive; victim's grandson Samuel Abuchie gave evidence of finding the body at around noon; trial set to continue the following day.
victim, 89, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 19 Oct2026Man goes on trial accused of smothering and strangling 89-year-old woman
Trial opened with prosecution opening statement detailing cause of death (asphyxiation by external compression of neck), inward fractures, DNA on victim's fingernails, the accused's motive and opportunity, the volatile household dynamic, and testimony from grandson Samuel Abuchie who found the body around noon on 4 August 2024.
victim, 89, woman, irish (judged from name)accused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, man, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori - 19 Oct2026Jury hears 89-year-old woman was strangled while in bed
Opening of murder trial; prosecution opening statement delivered; accused pleaded not guilty; trial expected to last four weeks.
victim, Josephine 'Josie' Ray, 89, female, irish (judged from name)Josephine 'Josie' Rayaccused, Hasan Ali Gori, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Hasan Ali Gori
Changed after publication
facts outlets added, removed or correctedrte.ie, 27 Oct 2026: Woman was contacted over illegal occupancy of accused
- CorrectedThe victim was referred to by her full name instead of a title and surname (was Ms Ray was very protective of her daughter Mary, now Josephine Ray was very protective of her daughter Mary)