Horse breeder died from four stab wounds

The death of a horse breeder murdered after returning home from a funeral last July was due to haemorrhage and shock following stab wounds to the trunk, an inquest has heard.

The coroner for East Waterford, Dr Eoin Maughan, recorded a verdict of murder at the inquest into the death of Richard Forristal (68) yesterday.

Mr Forristal's remains were found at his home in Carrigavantry stud, Co Waterford, on July 21st last in a pool of blood.

A jury of 12 men heard medical evidence from State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy that the deceased died following a "knife assault to the chest". The postmortem revealed Mr Forristal received four major stab wounds to the chest, with two penetrating deeply into the lung and aorta.

Anthony Barnes (20), from Clonard Road, Ballybeg in Waterford city, received a life sentence at the Central Criminal Court in March for the murder of Richard Forristal at his home on the date in question. He had pleaded guilty to trespassing and burglary at the stud on that date.

A "large hole" in Mr Forristal's aorta following the attack caused "almost one litre of blood to pour into the left chest cavity", the jury in Tramore heard yesterday.

The stab wounds, all caused by one weapon, went "down and into the body" of the deceased, causing injuries consistent "with dagger-like" movements, according to Dr Cassidy.

The knife penetrated Mr Forristal's rib cage and lungs, while puncture wounds caused trauma to the trachea and oesophagus of the deceased, it emerged.

Other injuries revealed that Mr Forristal had grabbed the knife and that he was left-handed. There were no injuries to the right hand, revealing that he had used the left hand and forearm "as a shield". Bruising under the right upper arm was consistent with the deceased being gripped, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in the attack.

Mr Forristal's remains were found by his friend Louis Murphy who had been living with him at the stud for six months previously.

On the morning in question, both men had travelled to Piltown at approximately 10am where Mr Forristal's horses, Blue Carrig and Carrigavantry, were being cared for. While there, they met Joe Crowley, the inquest was told.

The men left and made their way to the funeral, returning to Carrigavantry stud. Mr Murphy dropped Mr Forristal at his home before leaving to collect another man, John Kent, at 2.04pm.

However, Mr Murphy, upon returning, discovered the horse breeder lying inside the doorway of his house. His friend was lying in a pool of blood with his legs against the door.

The deceased was lying straight on his back with his hands by his side and his head covered with a coat.

Mr Kent went for help in Mr Murphy's car, while Mr Murphy contacted gardaí in Tramore.