RTÉ News: Court reserves judgment in Dunbar appeal

The court of criminal appeal has reserved judgment in an appeal by Ronnie Dunbar against his conviction and sentence for the manslaughter of 14-year-old Melissa Mahon in 2006.

The 45-year-old from Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, who is also known as Ronald McManus, was sentenced to life in prison in July last year after a jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter of the Sligo schoolgirl.

Lawyers for Dunbar said his conviction is unsafe and his life sentence excessive.

In 12 grounds of appeal put before the three-judge appeal court they claim the prosecution's case was inherently weak due to inconsistencies in the evidence of two key witnesses.

The two teenage girls who were in the house when Melissa was killed told last year's five-week trial they helped Mr Dunbar dispose of the teenager's body.

Defence lawyers said their evidence was unreliable. They also claim the trial judge was biased.

Isobel Kennedy for the prosecution said while there were some inconsistencies, both witnesses were clear on how Melissa died in September 2006.

She said the judge had described it as an exceptional case and was entitled to impose a life sentence.

The court of criminal appeal will deliver judgment at a later date.

Melissa's remains were recovered on the shore of Lough Gill in February 2008.

She had gone missing while in the care of the Health Service Executive on 14 September 2006.