Destination Newry News - Maire Rankin Murder - Karen Walsh Found Guilty

The trial of Karen Walsh, who was accused of the murder of Newry pensioner Mrs

. Maire Rankin came to a conclusion at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday 4th October 2011 when a jury of five men and seven women took just one hour and fifty two minutes to deliberate and find Ms Walsh guilty of the murder of Mrs. Rankin.

Ms Walsh has been jailed for life after she was convicted of the murder of the 81 year old woman who was sexually assaulted and beaten during a drunken attack at her home at Christmas time 2008. Mrs. Rankin had been suffering from a chest infection and has chosen, for the first time in her life to spend Christmas Eve alone in her Dublin Road home. Her daughter Brenda had been due to collect her mother the next morning.

It has emerged that Ms Walsh, who had been drinking heavily on Christmas Eve went to Mrs. Rankins home following an argument with her husband. When she went to Mrs. Rankins home she found the elderly lady sitting in a rocking chair in her upstairs bedroom. Ms Walsh sat with Mrs. Rankin and drank vodka neat straight from the bottle.

Mrs. Rankins family are of the belief that Mrs. Rankin had lectured Ms Walsh about leaving her husband and young son at home on Christmas eve. It is thought that Ms Walsh flew into a violent rage, grabbed the crucifix which was above Mrs. Rankins bed and beat her with it and pulled her hair. She then tried to stage a sexual assault to cover her tracks by stripping Mrs. Rankin. Mrs. Rankin was found naked on her bedroom floor by her brother-in-law on Christmas morning.

The State Pathologist gave evidence during the trial and stated that Mrs. Rankin had bruising to her chin which was considered to be consistent with the crown of thorns on the head of Jesus. Professor Jack Crane gave evidence that he believed that considerable force had been used to cause the injuries which Mrs. Rankin had suffered including bruising to her face and scalp. He said that Mrs. Rankin had been subjected to a series of punches or blows from a blunt instrument. Mrs. Rankin had also suffered 15 broken ribs which he suggested may have been caused after her death.

Mrs. Rankins family were in Court for the verdict and in an emotional statement outside the Court, Mrs. Rankins eldest daughter Emily Rankin said that her mother had died alone and frightened. She stated that her mother would never have hurt anybody and that she was deprived of a dignified death in the company of her family, because of her trusting nature and kindness she was subjected to a frenzied assault and horrific murder.

Detective Inspector John Caldwell said that he hoped that the verdict would in some small way bring comfort and closure to the family. He continued that they had lost Maires love and company because of the drunken, depraved actions of someone she trusted as a neighbour

Mr Justice Harte told Ms Walsh that the law only allows one sentence for murder and that was life imprisonment. He told her that once pre-sentence reports were prepared that he would fix the minimum jail term before she would even be considered for release. He warned her be under no illusion that will be a lengthy term. Whatever happened on that night, this was a brutal attack on an elderly and defenceless woman. She was completely defenceless. As Ms Walsh was being led to the cells she turned round to the Judge and said I am completely innocent.

by: James P Martin

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