The submission of evidence has ended in the Concepta Leonard inquest with the coroner expected to give a verdict later this week. Concepta was killed by 55-year-old Paedar Phair in her Maguiresbridge home on the 15th of May, 2017. He was found in the garage of the property having taken his own life.
Her son, Conor Gallagher who has Down's Syndrome was aged 30 when she was murdered, and despite being injured managed to raise the alarm. Concepta died from multiple stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, and there was evidence of defensive cuts to her hands including potential attempts to grab the blade.
She had ended the relationship with Phair who, according to witnesses, had steadily isolated her from family and friends, in what had become a controlling, domestic abuse situation. During proceedings, the only person who gave oral evidence was the detective sergeant who led the investigation, with the all other witness statements read into the record.
She explained police were tasked to Concepta's address with one crew attending to her son and searching the house, while a second crew carried out a perimeter check.
In the process of this, one officer entered the garage and discovered Phair hanging, with bloodstaining on his shirt and one hand. He was transferred to hospital and was subsequently pronounced dead.
The court heard that Phair spent the evening on the 14th of May, 2017 at his Lisnaskea home in the company of a friend who said he was upset and crying about Concepta.
The following morning he failed to appear in work but was seen travelling in his van towards Maguiresbridge. Around 9.30am, Phair purchased a fish-gutting knife from a shop in Lisnaskea, and by midday he was in a pub where he consumed four glasses of vodka.
Those who saw him said he was in good spirits and smartly dressed in a suit, shirt and tie. He engaged in conversation with a male and bought him a drink commenting he "would not be around to buy him another one again."
Around 1pm, CCTV showed Phair make his way to Concepta's home on foot, carrying a bag and holding a phone. Conor Gallagher, Concepta's son described Phair entering their home and shouting at his mother, before taking both their phones. He then took a knife from his pocket and put it to Concepta's stomach before ordering her and Conor upstairs. They obeyed and all went into Concepta's bedroom where she was "tossed" onto the bed by Phair who began stabbing her.
Conor retrieved the phones and threw one of these at Phair, which struck the back of his head. He grabbed Phair by the shoulder, but was stabbed twice in the process. Phair left the room and Conor immediately phoned the police. He then went to his mother, gently patted her and asked if she was awake; he told her an ambulance was on its way.
Conor then went downstairs to await the emergency services. He was later taken to hospital and underwent surgery for the knife wounds. The detective confirmed searches were conducted at a number of properties associated with Phair and no suicide note was found. This concluded the evidence in the case and the coroner is expected to deliver her findings later this week.
