News Story

Inquest into death of dental nurse Laura Marshall to start in October

PA Media

Ms Marshall was found dead in a flat in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in April 2016.

Received: 13:34:46 on 4th September 2026

An inquest into the death of dental nurse Laura Marshall in Co Armagh will be held later this year.

The body of the 31-year-old was found in a flat at Victoria Street in Lurgan in April 2016.

A murder investigation was launched after the results of a post-mortem examination.

Her partner Gary O’Dowd, from Banbridge, was arrested and charged with her murder, but the prosecution later dropped all charges against him.

Mr O’Dowd denied the charges.

He is set to be among those who give evidence at the inquest.

On Friday a preliminary hearing was told that the disclosure process was completed and work was ongoing on a witness list.

A previous preliminary hearing was told that more than 200 hours of CCTV footage is among the evidence being prepared for consideration in the inquest and that former state pathologist for Northern Ireland Professor Jack Crane is to appear as an expert witness.

The inquest is set to start on October 8 at Newry court under coroner Louisa Fee.