KILLER DWYER LOSES APPEAL

GRAHAM Dwyer has failed to overturn his conviction for murdering vulnerable child care worker Elaine O’Hara, almost eight years to the day after he was found guilty.

- EOIN REYNOLDS

President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham delivered the judgment, dismissing all grounds of appeal including a claim by Dwyer’s lawyers the use of call data records at his trial should lead to a retrial.

He said: “In this case we are quite satisfied the admission of the very limited call data evidence that was admitted could not conceivably be regarded as giving rise to a miscarriage of justice.”

He said that even if the evidence should not have been admitted at his trial, it was of little significance given that the prosecution was able to establish through other evidence that the phones, which contained evidence of his plan to murder Ms O’Hara, belonged to Dwyer.

Dwyer was in court for the verdict. He appeared restless and struggled to sit still as the judge gave his verdict.

The 50-year-old’s hair was shorter and greyer than it was during his initial trial in 2015, and his tailored suit was replaced by a Canterbury zip-top.