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The five key locations of a deadly affair

From an anonymous suburban apartment block to a lonely, windswept reservoir – each played an important role in catching Elaine’s killer.

Elaine O'Hara death Vartry Reservoir, Co Wicklow Niall Carson Niall Carson

THROUGHOUT THE GRAHAM Dwyer trial, a number of locations were mentioned as being important to both the accused, Dwyer, and the victim, Elaine O’Hara.

From the location where Elaine was last seen, to the road that Dwyer worked on, all have been focused on at various points in the trial.

Graham Dwyer (42) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Elaine O’Hara on 22 August 2013. After seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberations, a jury found him guilty of Elaine O’Hara’s murder.

Here are the five major locations in the trial:

Shanganagh Cemetery

Elaine O’Hara (36), a childcare worker, was last seen alive at this location.

Ms O’Hara had been discharged from hospital on 22 August 2012, the day she went missing.

Her car was found at the cemetery on 24 August 2012, two days after she went missing.

Her late mother was buried in the graveyard here.

A jogger testified during the trial that he gave directions to Ms O’Hara to a railway bridge near this cemetery on the evening she disappeared.

He said he was jogging and later met her on that bridge. “She was walking towards the seafront,” he said.

shanganagh cemetery Google Maps Google Maps

Belarmine Plaza

Elaine O’Hara had lived in Belarmine Plaza in Stepaside for a number of years.

She was last seen leaving Belarmine Plaza at around 5.05pm on 22 August 2012.

CCTV footage from her apartment building was shown during the trial.

belarmine 2 Google Maps Google Maps

The footage allegedly showed Graham Dwyer outside her home a month before she went missing. The court heard that the footage showed the accused at Elaine O’Hara’s apartment nine times.

belarmine 1 Castlethorn Castlethorn

Killakee Mountain, Rathfarnham

Elaine O’Hara was reported missing in August 2012.

In September 2013, human skeletal remains were discovered at Killakee Mountain by a member of the public.

The remains were examined by the State pathologist, and on 17 September 2013 it was confirmed that the remains were those of Elaine O’Hara.

Elaine O Hara Body found at Kilakee Mountains Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

By September 18, a second scene was being examined. This was in Co Wicklow: Vartry Reservoir.

Vartry Reservoir, Co Wicklow

In the summer of 2013, the warm and dry weather led to a drop in water levels at this reservoir in Roundwood. The R765 road travels along the top of the dam/embankment.

Graham Dwyer case Niall Carson Niall Carson

Two men out fishing there spotted something “shiny” in the water, the court heard. The area was later searched by officers after one of the men contacted the gardaí.

640px-Vartry_Reservoir Wikipedia Wikipedia

Items recovered from the water included a rucksack, set of keys, loyalty cards, handcuffs, a rope, and two Nokia mobile phones. These would all prove crucial to the prosecution’s case.

The information that was subsequently discovered on these phones played a pivotal part in the trial of Graham Dwyer.

The Nokia phones were purchased together and only used to contact each other. Each of them had only the other phone’s number saved in its contacts: SLV and MSTR.

The State referred to them as the Master phone and Slave phone during the trial and it was alleged that they were being used by the accused and the deceased.

The text messages between the Master and Slave phones gave an insight into the relationship between the phones’ users.

vartry reservoir Google Maps Google Maps

Baggot Street

Located on Baggot Street Lower is A&D Wejchert and Partners, the architects’ office were Graham Dwyer worked.

baggot st Google Mpas Google Mpas

On 25 October 2013, Graham Dwyer was charged with the murder of Elaine O’Hara.

His office was searched during the investigation, and during his trial, it was heard that Graham Dwyer drew gardaí a map that led them to two knives in the basement of his office here.

All of these locations would provide evidence that helped a jury decide that on 22 August 2012, Grham Dwyer murdered Elaine O’Hara. He will be sentenced in April.

Read: Jury in Graham Dwyer trial begin deliberating verdict>

Read all of our coverage of the Graham Dwyer trial>

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    Jul 6th 2022, 8:51 AM

    Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster for the UK no alternative markets have emerged and the economy is plummeting! Boris did this so himself and his mates could make money but it’s not working! He doesn’t care about the ordinary people and with food banks and no work they will be back to Victorian lifestyles

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    Mute Steve O'Hara-Smith
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    Jul 6th 2022, 10:29 AM

    @PamelaArchitect: What makes you so sure it’s not working? The interesting questions are if it is working then who is it working for and how, where is the money going and who is hiding it.
    Now think about British overseas territories and their banking practices.

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    Mute Graham Manning
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    Jul 6th 2022, 7:39 AM

    If (when) he’s goes soon the lying, self-serving, amoral, incompetent dullard will have served less time than May. Not that his replacement is likely to be much of an improvement but they’ll probably command less popular support with the base and see an even bigger Tory defeat come the next election.

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    Jul 6th 2022, 8:16 AM

    It’s not just Boris…all the Tories are rotten to the core

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    Mute Steve O'Hara-Smith
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    Jul 6th 2022, 10:32 AM

    @Seamus Quaide: Oh I’m sure there are many honest dedicated people in the party membership. But yes that which rises to the top on the old school tie ticket is not the cream.

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    Jul 6th 2022, 7:47 AM

    Apparently the Daily Express is now Johnson’s boss.

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    Jul 6th 2022, 10:44 AM

    Another trip to Ukraine should do it…

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    Jul 6th 2022, 10:04 AM

    Its not as if things are any better over here with our lot either and being in the eu

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    Jul 6th 2022, 11:27 AM

    @sandra clifford: Your right! Let’s leave the EU and elect PBP to form a majority govt, problem solved :-)

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    Jul 6th 2022, 10:23 AM

    Most of these ‘publications’ have backed him in one way or another until now

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    Jul 6th 2022, 11:17 AM

    Back to Ukraine and hide out a while Bojo their comming for you lol

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    Jul 7th 2022, 11:00 AM

    When he resigns, will be then have time to fix his hair?

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