Robert Holohan murder trial to begin tomorrow

THE trial of a 20-year-old man charged with the murder of Midleton schoolboy Robert Holohan last January is due to begin in Cork tomorrow.

A jury is expected to be sworn in tomorrow morning at the Central Criminal Court in the city, to hear evidence in the case against Wayne O’Donoghue, from Ballyedmond, Midleton.

The Cork Institute of Technology engineering student is charged with the murder of 11-year-old Robert Holohan on January 4 this year at Ballyedmond, Midleton, Co Cork.

Robert Holohan was the subject of a massive search around the east Cork area after he was reported missing by his parents Majella and Mark on January 4 last.

The body of the fifth class pupil was found eight days later around 12 miles from his home near Inch strand.

The search involved thousands of people, in support of gardaí, defence forces and civil defence teams.

The trial is expected to be presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney and dozens of witnesses are likely to be called if the defendant pleads not guilty.

The murder charge was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions in April and the trial was originally set for hearing last month.

There is expected to be significant media and public interest in the case.

It will be just the second murder trial to be heard in Cork since the foundation of the State, after the first such case took place in the city last month.

The trial takes place at Cork Courthouse on Washington Street, which was reopened last February after a five-year closure for the €26 million refurbishment, which entailed its closure for renovations in 1999.