Article: Rachel fought for her life; Joe O'Reilly: He shifted in his seat and wiped away a tear as the pathologist outlined Rachel's injuries.

Byline: SHANE PHELAN

MURDERED mother-of-two Rachel O'Reilly tried to defend herself from herattacker and may have clung to life for hours after she was savagely beaten inher bedroom, a court heard yesterday.

In graphic and occasionally disturbing evidence at the Central Criminal Court,State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy detailed how Rachel was struck 'severaltimes' on the head, fracturing her skull.

But these injuries, inflicted by a blunt object, did not kill her instantly,and Dr Cassidy said: 'She could have lain unconscious for some few hours priorto her dying.' The pretty 30-year-old's death was hastened by the inhalation ofher own blood as ...

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