The verdict time had come, then silence ...

THE bells of the nearby St Francis’s Church tolled solemnly as midday approached and then silence descended.

Minutes later, the jury in the Robert Holohan murder trial left Courtroom Number Two at Cork Courthouse to decide their verdict. Was Wayne O’Donoghue guilty of murder or manslaughter?

On the 10th day of the Central Criminal Court sitting, the sombre mood of the courtroom was even more pronounced. An air of tension punctuated the air and counsel for both sides looked focused, if not slightly edgy.

The accused, Wayne O’Donoghue, looked notably more alert than in previous days at the courthouse. Up to this, his head was mostly bowed, only raised for seconds to scan the courtroom.

Yesterday morning, he seemed to be sitting taller - there was no leaning sideways from the press gallery to catch a glimpse of him; he now sat a head over those around him.

His eyes were fixed on Mr Justice Paul Carney who sat high on the mahogany bench as he addressed the jury before formally putting them in charge of the case.

Robert Holohan’s father sat staring at Mr Justice Carney - leaning forward with his hands clasped on the seat before him. At times, he looked like a man in prayer knelt at the back of a church.

Beside him, as she has been for the past 10 days, sat Majella, Robert’s mother. She showed little emotion.

At times, her head down, she seemed to gulp as if there were lumps in her throat. Now and then her eyes flickered over to the jury and she scanned their faces from left to right. In her hand, she held a piece of paper or maybe a photograph.

Mr Justice Carney told the jury that they would be given an issue paper, upon which they were to write their verdict. O’Donoghue’s charge was written on the left of the piece of paper. Their verdict was to go on the right.

He also pointed out that if the murder charge was to be upheld, it must be proved “beyond reasonable doubt”. After days of emotional testimony, the issue was to become black or white. Outside, the bells began to toll. The jury then filed out of the courtroom and Majella blessed herself hurriedly.

Four hours and 21 minutes later, the seven-woman and five-man jury piled back into the jury box and Wayne O’Donoghue blessed himself.

After 10 days in court, the former Cork Institute of Technology engineering student was found guilty of the manslaughter of 11-year-old Robert Holohan, but not guilty of his murder.

Numbers

Eight:

The number of days that Robert Holohan’s family, friends and neighbours waited for some news of his whereabouts.

1,200:

The number of people who eventually volunteered to try to find Robert Holohan who went missing on Tuesday, January 4, 2005.

75:

The number of gardaí eventually involved in the search for Robert Holohan in January last year.

16:

The number of garda detectives drafted in to help with the investigation into Robert’s disappearance.

25:

Soldiers from the 1st Field Artillery Regiment in Collins Barracks who used machetes to clear heavily-forested areas. Some 100 troops were involved in the search.

Eight:

The number of members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Dublin who travelled to Cork to assist in the search.

70:

The number of fresh calls received by gardaí about Robert Holohan’s disappearance after a TV reconstruction of his last known movements a week after he disappeared.

60:

The number of calls received by a Health Service Executive helpline within 24 hours of being set up to help people come to terms with the death of the young schoolboy.

11:

Robert’s age when he was killed.

20:

Wayne O’Donoghue’s age when his young neighbour was killed.

15,000:

The estimated number of people who attended the Mass of the Angels for Robert Holohan.

12:

The number of times the bells of the Holy Rosary Church tolled as Robert Holohan’s body was interred - once for every year of his life and once for a birthday he will never have.