THE JURY IN the Graham Dwyer trial have found the 41-year-old architect guilty of the murder of Elaine O’Hara.
The seven men and five women of the jury reached their unanimous verdict after two months of the gruelling and, at times, traumatic trial. They deliberated for a total of seven hours and 33 minutes.
The verdict was read out to a packed courtroom at about 3.45pm today, day 45 of the trial.
Justice Tony Hunt told the jury he agreed with the verdict 110% before telling them they were exempt from jury duty for the next 30 years.
“I don’t mind expressing view at this time. I hope I was careful not to express the view at any other stage.”
He said he “whole-heartedly” endorsed their verdict.
“The question of suicide simply wasn’t there.”
On hearing the guilty verdict, Elaine O’Hara’s family members – her father, her brother and sister – were in tears and embraced.
Dwyer, who will be sentenced to mandatory life in prison, closed his eyes and shook his head when the guilty verdict was brought in by the jury. His father and tearful sister were seated in the gallery.
Sentencing will take place at 2pm on 20 April. There will also be a victim impact statement read by the O’Hara family on that day.
Prior to the verdict being read out, Dwyer, dressed in a navy suit and white shirt, took his seat, and loosened his pink and purple stripped tie.
“No doubt you’re human like myself, when you’re cut, you bleed. These things are not easy,” Justice Hunt told the jury.
He thanked them for their “very difficult task” and also for the patience they displayed.
Justice Hunt said they were all “first-class citizens” for carrying out their civic duty. He said the good news for them now was that the trial had now come to an end and they could get on with their lives.
He told the jury members they have done their duty and are private citizens. “What happened in that room, as far as you are concerned, is nobody’s business,” said Justice Hunt.
He told them that if they are approached in anyway about the trial they are to contact court services and he would deal with it.
“Go back to your lives… thank you very much indeed,” he concluded.
The prosecution and defence finished their cases last week, with closing speeches for both sides concluding last Friday. The judge concluded his instructions to the jury on Thursday morning.
Some 197 witnesses had given evidence for the prosecution during the eight weeks of the trial. The defence called three witnesses and concluded its case in less 30 minutes last Wednesday.
Graham Dwyer, a 42-year-old architect from Foxrock in Dublin, denied the charges.
Elaine O’Hara was last seen on 22 August 2012. Her remains were found on Killakee mountain a year later.
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