State's DNA evidence outlined at trial of Athlone man on burglary charge

The trial of Athlone man charged with aggravated burglary at a Glasson home was told yesterday (Tuesday) that DNA evidence found on the boot of a car at the house matched a sample taken from the accused. Brian McGinley (37), from Blackberry Lane, Athlone, denies the charge of aggravated burglary at the home of Damien and Rachel Kilmartin at Ladyswell, Glasson, Athlone, on February 13, 2005. The Garda Designated case scientist, Dr Linda Williams, told Mullingar Circuit Court sitting in Tullamore that the probability of the sample belonging to another person was "one in one thousand million". She was referring to a sample of blood taken from the boot of a car at the Kilmartin home. Dr Williams said: "It is unlikely that it would match anyone else in the population". Her evidence followed that of Det Conor Harrison who outlined how had recovered stolen jewellery from a field in Tallaght, Dublin. Det Harrison approached a man at Kilanarden Hill in July 2005. The man was standing beside a car and appeared to be shouting into a field. As he neared, Det Harrison noticed a man in the field. The man claimed he was going to the toilet. Det Harrison said one of the individuals was known to him. Det Harrison then followed the man's footprints through the field. He discovered a silver spoon and then began searching an area under a hedge where soil had been disturbed. "After a couple of minutes I found a cloth bag containing the jewellery," he said. When asked if McGinley was one of the two men at the scene, Det Harrison replied: "Neither of these men were Brian McGinley.