Murder of John Lowe in Portlaw, Co. Waterford on the 13th of December 2018

On the 15th of December 2018, a scientist attended the scene of the murder of John Lowe in a house in Portlaw, Co. Waterford to assist with Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) and in the selection of samples for subsequent examination and DNA analysis in the Laboratory. Mr. Lowe had received multiple blows to the head and died from his injuries.

During the scene examination, significant bloodstain patterns were observed and their source subsequently identified by DNA profiling. This allowed the scientist to provide an expert opinion as to the activities that occurred in the house to create these bloodstain patterns. Items of clothing taken from the Person of Interest, Stephen Keane, in the case were also examined and blood found was identified by DNA profiling.

In May 2021, the forensic scientist gave evidence in the trial of Stephen Keane at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford. Stephen Kean was found guilty of Murder.