by John Mooney
The facts were as follows: 11 members of the panel agreed that Linda was guilty of manslaughter, while 10 convicted Charlotte of the murder of the Kenyan.
Judge Carney then thanked the jury for its careful attention to the verdict, which he said had been a ‘discriminatory’ one. It was over.
*****
When the verdicts were read out, the sisters did not touch or look at each other. In the silence, both looked down and showed no surprise; their body language never gave them away.
Instead, Charlotte called her solicitor to ask to be allowed to keep her baby. She was distraught; few people thought for a moment about the effects her conviction would have on her little boy.
Isobel Kennedy raised the matter immediately, as her sentence was a forgone conclusion; she would get life imprisonment.
Mangan was seated across the court and looked relieved that it was over, as did the rest of the team.
Moments after the verdicts were delivered, he was called back to the witness box to give evidence. This would assist Judge Carney in imposing a sentence. He had just one opportunity to try to explain his knowledge of the two convicted women.
He began with the facts. Linda, he said, was un-employed and a mother of four young children. Reading from his notes, he said she had a previous conviction for larceny dating back to 1993.
This time, he made a point of emphasising that she came from a troubled background, though the words he used were a ‘very tough family background.’ He continued, in his own measured way, to recount the horrific life Linda had led. He said there was a history of abuse by a violent partner, who had received a ‘substantial jail term’ for cruelty to her children.
Next he spoke about Charlotte, who could only think of her baby boy. He said she had a conviction under the Criminal Damage Act and for a public order offence, but she had received probation. He drew attention to the fact that she had a serious problem with drugs and alcohol, and like Linda, came from a ‘troubled background.’
Mangan had never seen the sisters as the monsters they were made out to be; he correctly saw them as products of society—a harsh and brutal society.
He referred to the death of their late father John, saying: ‘John Mulhall (Snr) was probably in my view the mainstay of the family.’
The court fell silent as he said it was his opinion that the current case had contributed to his death.
*****
There had been no winners in this trial. The jailing of the Mulhall sisters wasn’t in itself punishment; separation from their children is what hurt them the most. Though Linda’s conviction for manslaughter was a success by all accounts for her legal team; there was no denying this.
Charlotte had been found guilty of murder; there was now nothing anyone could do or say to change that. It was now time for the formalities. Judge Carney next asked about the possibility of a victim impact statement before he sentenced the sisters. Birmingham told him the team had not received any ‘great assistance from the Kenyan authorities.’
Judge Carney adjourned sentencing until 4 December, when he would have more information. The court rose once more.
When he left, Charlotte and Linda came back to life. Charlotte hugged her two brothers as she was led down to the cells. Linda now began to cry. ‘Thank God it’s over,’ she said.
She then kissed each of them, and hugged them tightly, touching their faces, before making her way out of Court No. 2 to join her sister.
She had seemed truly moved by Mangan’s evidence, which was delivered in a sincere and truthful way. Before she left, she shook his hand, and thanked him for everything he had done. She also thanked the other members of the team. Few inside the courtroom fully understood how she had been haunted by Noor’s killing, though Mangan knew full well.
*****
Linda and Charlotte Mulhall had always accepted they would end up in prison when they began the arduous task of confessing. Linda had been the first to tell the truth. Charlotte had only confessed when confronted with Linda’s admission. In this regard, their incarceration had never been in doubt. Once Linda had made the decision to reveal the truth; her future had been decided. Perhaps, she saw this as a way of absolving herself of the guilt that consumed her.
She had stood to gain nothing by confessing to Mangan; she had not sought a deal, or even attempted to secure a lesser sentence. Instead she had told the truth and done what was asked of her.
It was noteworthy that she had never attempted to blame anyone else for the killing; on the contrary, she had placed her own liberty at risk to protect her father. Of course, she had lied in the beginning, but when she made the mental decision to tell the truth, she did so with a degree of honestly that is a rare occurrence.
Charlotte’s sentence had been a forgone conclusion. Because she had been convicted for murder, her lawyers knew she had to receive a mandatory life sentence. Linda’s case was starkly different; the jury had convicted her for manslaughter, which afforded her trial judge an opportunity to impose a lesser sentence.
Most people agreed that this was likely to happen, but even with this rationale, they knew she would end up in prison for a long time. The sisters returned to Court No. 2 for sentencing on 4 December.
That morning, Judge Carney heard the defence and prosecution make submissions to have the sentencing of the sisters adjourned. The prosecution said the detective team were making efforts to bring the victim’s mother to Ireland to provide a victim impact report.
In their applications, the defence had argued that psychiatric and probation reports were still not ready; they too wished to have the sentencing adjourned. However, Judge Carney rejected the applications on the grounds that both sides had ‘ample time’ to prepare.
This was an unexpected development, particularly for Brendan Grehan, the senior counsel, who had represented Linda. He had been retained to represent Pádraig Nally, a farmer who had shot a traveller at his farm in Co. Mayo. That trial had begun hearing evidence in another court across the round hall.
Therefore when Judge Carney took his seat in Court No. 2, and moved to begin the sentencing hearing, it soon became apparent that Grehan was missing. Judge Carney then asked where Grehan’s junior counsel was. The judge didn’t adjourn the case but sat motionless, then pronounced: ‘Well, we will just have to wait until one of them appears,’ he declared.
Their absence had been an unfortunate error and was not deliberate. Grehan had told his junior that he would represent Linda at her sentencing, but unfortunately had been delayed because he was involved in another important trial. This was beyond anyone’s control. The court sat in silence for ten minutes while efforts were made to locate the barristers. Minutes later, Grehan hurried in, offered his apologies, and prepared to make a submission for leniency on behalf of his client, Linda. The hearing then proceeded.
Grehan, who had managed to achieve a result by having Linda’s charge reduced to manslaughter, now pleaded with the judge to show mitigation. In spite of everything, he said she had co-operated with the investigation, had been remorseful and was the mother of four children. The barrister went further. He said Linda was a ‘good mother to those children.’
This prompted Judge Carney to intervene at once. He referred to the time when Linda had said she ‘wanted to make a trifle for the children rather than go out with gardaí.’
As far as he was concerned, he said he could not accept that someone who put herself in this situation was a good mother.
In a slow and methodical manner, the judge explained what he was about to do. He began by saying the case had been ‘the most grotesque case of killing that has occurred within my professional lifetime. So as far as Charlotte is concerned, the sentence is a mandatory one of imprisonment for life.’
Whilst it was open to him to impose a life sentence for manslaughter, he said the jury had allowed the defence
of provocation, and he should respect that. What he said next dimmed the hopes of any reprieve as far as Linda was concerned.
He started off by saying that there were many factors in Linda’s dysfunctional background that the jury had already taken into account in determining the defence of provocation. He noted that she had been highly co-operative with the gardaí. He said she had been ‘very frank in her admissions.’
He went to a great deal of trouble to explain his rationale before he delivered his sentence. In a review of 50 cases of manslaughter, which had been originally tried as murder cases, he said 14 years had been the longest term imposed.
There would be no mitigation for Linda on the grounds of her dysfunctional life. This, he said, permitted him to sentence her to 15 years, but he repeated that if she was, ‘a good mother, she would not have been getting herself into a situation of this kind.’
The drama didn’t end there.
When she heard the sentence; Linda held her face in her hands, and began to cry. This was the moment she had dreaded. In truth, she was devastated and inconsolable. She was troubled by the idea that she would never get to see her children growing up. There were no encouraging signs.
Perhaps she asked herself if she and Charlotte had done the right thing by confessing. Their lives were now ruined for ever. The nightmare had ended, but in many ways it had just begun.
Her father had committed suicide and her children would be without a mother. No matter what way she examined the situation, she was the loser. And to the forefront of her mind was the undeniable fact that her own mother was nowhere to be seen.
Epilogue
The day of the sentencing had been a calamitous one for Linda and her sister Charlotte. The younger of the two had accepted her fate after she was found guilty of the murder; Charlotte knew she would waste away her young life in jail when found guilty; there was nothing that anyone could do to change this destiny.
Linda, though, had privately hoped for a miracle. Her prayers had partially been answered when she was found guilty of manslaughter and not murder, but the nightmare she had found herself trapped in returned to consume her when she was sentenced to 15 years.
No matter what way she rationalised her predicament; she could not help but come to the conclusion that she had no future. She has already appealed the severity of her sentence in the beleaguered hope that a higher court will review her case. In the meantime, she has accepted the sentence handed down because she has no other choice.
In truth, Linda and Charlotte Mulhall never really had any choices in life. Drugs, alcohol, and low self-esteem dictated the course of their lives ever since they were young girls. Are they ruthless killers? Most likely not. They are best described as vulnerable women who, while high on drugs and alcohol, carried out unspeakable acts on their victim. They now hold the reputation of being notorious killers, with their own nickname, the ‘Scissor Sisters’.
Though, having become one the biggest stories in recent criminal history; they have gotten on with their lives as best they can. Their worlds have changed.
Linda and Charlotte now spend their days in the Women’s Prison in Mountjoy, where they live in cells next to each other. Perhaps this has been some sort of consolation.
Charlotte has since appeared before the courts fuelling further interest in her. She was convicted for failing to turn up to face charges of prostitution. She is doing her best to care for her baby boy, who is brought to visit her in the Dóchas centre in the prison every week.
Linda, though, is still trying to come to terms with being separated from her children. Her devotion to them—though not always the best—was always proverbial. She is occasionally allowed to see them; those who know her best say she is just about coping with life without them.
She has only made one public comment about her case. And that was to say she had never been involved in prostitution—an untrue allegation that has circulated about her. She won’t talk about the killing; those who know her say she still can’t cope with it.
She and Charlotte were recently visited by Mangan, who asked if they would provide more evidence against their mother Kathleen, whom the Garda are actively seeking. Charlotte said she couldn’t help. Initially, Linda agreed to co-operate but then changed her mind; she had had enough.
It was time to put the killing and dismemberment of Farah Swaleh Noor behind her. She wants to get on with her life.
She says she dreams of opening a beauty salon with Charlotte when they are released. She has spoken of this to her friends; in fact, the two women hope to spend their time in prison learning about beauty treatments and business.
They have discovered in themselves a new-found curiosity about learning, which sums up the tragedy of it all. Charlotte has thrown herself into studies: she does little else.
Those who could have helped her and Linda in years gone by, when they were most at risk from drugs and drink, had no desire to.
Circumstances had dictated their fate, and what would become of them. As Linda herself would say, she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.
So was Farah Swaleh Noor.
There are no winners in this case. A man’s life was taken, and his remains denigrated in the most horrific fashion. His children will grow up with stories of how their violent father was himself violently killed and dismembered. Any chance of redemption he may have had was taken away from him.
Charlotte and Linda broke ranks with all social taboos when they tore and cut Noor’s body apart. This is compounded by the fact that his head and penis have not yet been recovered. Behind his violent life and legacy, a family also lost a son and several children lost a father. Five other children will be raised without their mothers.
The horrific events described in this book took place over one drug-fuelled night, but the consequences are destined to last for generations.
Glossary
The Mulhalls and Farah Swaleh Noor
Mulhall, Charlotte ‘Charlie’, sister of Linda.
Mulhall, John, Snr, father of Linda and Charlotte.
Mulhall, Kathleen, mother of Linda and Charlotte.
Mulhall, Linda, sister of Charlotte.
Noor, Farah Swaleh, aka Sheilila Salim, killed and dismembered by Linda and Charlotte Mulhall. His remains were discovered in the Royal Canal.
*****
An Garda Síochána
Breathnach, Garda Brian and Ferriter, Garda Eoin took the first remains from the canal water.
Bruton, Sergeant John, of the Garda Sub-Aqua Unit.
Cox, Detective Garda Dominic, filmed Linda as she retraced her steps from the night of the killing.
Crime and Security, the spying department of Garda headquarters.
Crimestoppers, organisation seeking information on crime from the general public.
Criminal Law Act, 1997, under which Linda, Charlotte, John and Kathleen Mulhall were first arrested.
Dunne, Detective Malachy, and Detective Patrick Flood, interviewed Bakaar and Hyland.
Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station, the nearest station to the scene of the discovery.
Garda Control, Harcourt Square.
Garda Sub-Aqua Unit, the specialist team tasked with recovering the remains from the Royal Canal.
Garda Technical Bureau, offering forensic analysis and examination.
Greally, Garda Alan took the call from Tara Street and entered the incident on the Grada PULSE information system.
Hickey, Detective Sergeant Liam, who first arrested Charlotte Mulhall.
Interpol, the international police agency who ran checks in an attempt to identify the remains.
Keegan, Detective Garda Patrick, interviewed Kathleen Mulhall.
Kenna, Detective Dan, compiled the statements into a book of evidence.
Kilmainham Garda Station, where John Mulhall was brought for questioning.
Labuschagne, Superintendent Gerard, of the Ritual Killing Unit of the South African Police Force in Pretoria, consulted regarding the possibility of a ritual killing.
Leahy, Garda Mick, Duty Sergeant the night Linda Mulhall made her recorded statement at Tallaght Garda Station.
Mangan, Detective Inspector Christy, in charge of the overall investigation.
McDonnell, Detective Sergeant Gerry, experienced detective from Fitzgibbon Street who first arrested Kathleen Mulhall.
McKeown, Detective Superintendent John, the overall head of the investigation.
Mountjoy Garda Station, where Charlotte was taken for her interrogation.
Mountjoy Women’s Prison, Phibsboro, where Linda and Charlotte were sentenced to imprisonment.
National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the state agency for major crime investigation.
O’Brien, Detective David, who first arrested John Mulhall.
O’Connell, Detective Sergeant Walter, first arrested Linda Mulhall.
PULSE, Garda computer system.
Ramsbottom, Dr Dorothy, of the Forensic Science Laboratory, confirmed a DNA match between Noor, the crime scene and Noor’s son from a previous relationship.
Roche, Sergeant Shay, formally charged Linda.
Store Street Garda Station, a central Garda station in Dublin city.
Tallaght Garda Station, the nearest such station to Kilclare Gardens.
*****
The Fire Brigade
Carroll, Derek, district fire officer.
