Tipperary Council told murder victim that accused was illegal tenant

THE COUNCIL had flagged concerns that a man was living illegally in a pensioner’s home when he allegedly murdered her, a trial heard...

TIPPERARY COUNCIL had flagged concerns that a man was living illegally in a pensioner’s home when he allegedly murdered her, a trial heard this week.

The deceased, Josephine “Josie” Ray, (89), of St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, was found allegedly strangled and smothered in her bed, on August 4, 2024.

The accused, Hasan Ali Gori, (52), originally from Chad, Africa, and with an address at St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Ray.

Ali Gori’s trial, before Mr Justice Sean Gillane and a jury of nine men and three women, has entered its second week at the Central Criminal Court, in Limerick.

At the time of the alleged murder, Ali Gori was in a relationship with Josie Ray’s daughter, Mary Ray, who, it was heard, was living with an intellectual disability.

Several witnesses, including relatives and neighbours of Josie Ray, have told the court that she and her daughter Mary and Ali Gori were constantly “arguing” and “fighting” with one another, while they were all living together in Josie Ray’s home, owned by Tipperary County Council.

The trial heard that Tipperary County Council had contacted Josie Ray, prior to her death, in respect of concerns about an alleged illegal occupancy in the property.

Josie and Mary were both long-standing tenants in the house and the Council was made aware of neighbours concerns about the accused residing in the house.

Seamus O’Brien, a community liaison officer with Tipperary County Council, gave evidence that, in April 2024, he called to Josie Ray’s house and informed Ms Ray that under the terms of her tenancy, no other occupants, bar her daughter, were allowed live in the property.

Mr O’Brien said Josie Ray appeared nervous while talking about the matter with him.

The local authority subsequently sent Josie Ray a letter outlining complaints received by the council about anti-social behaviour and an unauthorised occupancy in the property. The letter informed Josie Ray that this was not permitted and could put her tenancy at risk.

Majella Madigan, another of the Council’s community liaison officers, told the court she met members of Josie Ray’s family, who expressed concern about Ali Gori’s presence in the property.

The Council sent a subsequent letter to Josie Ray informing her that she was in breach of her tenancy with the local authority because of an alleged illegal occupancy.

Gardai told the court they received a report of a domestic disturbance at Ms Ray’s home on the night before she was found dead.

Garda Aoife Shine, Nenagh, said she spoke with Mary Ray at the house, who appeared to be upset and was claiming that her partner, the accused, was “looking and talking to prostitutes on his phone”.

Garda Shine said Ali Gori, who is represented at trial by senior counsel Aidan Doyle, was present in the kitchen of Josie Ray’s house and that he appeared to be annoyed and frustrated.

Garda Shine said no physical altercation was reported and Mary Ray indicated that she was happy for Ali Gori to remain in the house.

Garda Keith Fitzgerald, Nenagh, who also responded, said Ali Gori told him that he was living with Josie Ray in line with his immigration status at the time.

The gardai advised Ali Gori and Mary Ray to be mindful of their neighbours and not to be making noise in the house.

Josie Ray was very protective of her daughter Mary and she “did not like” Ali Gori, it was heard.

Another of Josie Ray’s neighbours told he court that on the night before Ms Ray was found dead, he “clearly” overheard the accused telling Mary Ray that “either he had to go or Josie had to leave the house and go”.

The case by the prosecution, led by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, is that Ali Gori strangled and smothered Josie Ray, who was allegedly found dead in her bed with marks to her face and compression fractures to her neck, as well as Ali Gori’s DNA allegedly found on her fingernails. The trial continues.