Anger and shock remain as town divides over sentence

BUSINESS continued as usual in the busy East Cork town of Midleton, but in cafes and restaurants faces were buried in newspapers as people pored over coverage of a case that has clearly divided the town.

People said there was “an air of disbelief” following on from Majella Holohan’s dramatic victim impact statement about the death of her son Robert.

As Wayne O’Donoghue’s solicitor Frank Buttimer took to the national airwaves, people didn’t know who to believe.

Father Billy O’Donovan, who was parish priest at the time of Robert’s death, said he hopes the town will be able to move on after the judgement.

“Hopefully, it will be all over now.

“It has been a very traumatic time for both families and they have both been in my thoughts and prayers,” Fr O’Donovan said.

Town mayor Billy Buckley said: “This episode last year and particularly what has happened in the last number of days has rekindled a lot of memories for people.

“It has been a very traumatic time for the people of the town of Midleton. It has brought back a lot of memories of the events of January 2005.

“The event which began on January 4 last year will obviously for a long time leave a mark on the town, but I’m confident that people will get on and we have to look to the future.

“The lives of two families have been torn apart and I hope the press and media will respect both families and leave them to get on with their lives.”

One town councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that there was “a sombre mood” and wondered if the town “would ever really forget about this”.

“There are two families’ lives destroyed and people are very aware of that. However, there is also a lot of anger about the trial.

“Many people have also questioned the leniency of the sentence while others feel it was enough. Both opinions are everywhere.”