O’Donoghue ‘relieved’ at verdict

THE solicitor for Wayne O’Donoghue, Frank Buttimer, said his client was very relieved at the jury’s verdict.

In a statement on his behalf, Mr Buttimer said O’Donoghue’s thoughts were with Mark and Majella Holohan at this time.

“Wayne O’Donoghue would like to express his gratitude for the fair and reasonable manner in which this trial was conducted.

“He is deeply grateful to the jury for the attention that they have given to the very, very difficult task which they have had to deal with for the past two weeks. He would like to thank An Garda Síochána, the prison service and his legal advisers.

“He would like to thank all those in the background who have furnished advice to his legal advisers. This includes the various medical and other personnel who have given assistance to us over this period of time on the difficult issues with which we have had to contend with in this case.

“He is deeply grateful to his own family who have been there to support him throughout the entire period of this past 12 months approximately. To all of those people who have wished him well over the past period of time, to people who have sent cards, prayers, have contacted us by telephone or contacted Wayne through the prison service, all those people, he is very, very grateful. He is aware of the difficult position which he has placed people in terms of the facts of this case.

“From the outset, the people of Ireland have responded in a very, very generous and kind fashion from the time when it was necessary to commence the search through until today.

“For that Wayne O’Donoghue is deeply grateful and he understands how people have been very, very kind and decent throughout. If anybody is left unthanked, that is my fault, it is certainly not Wayne’s fault. He is relieved at the verdict and he appreciates that the matter is not concluded, so we will proceed to Ennis court in January to conclude the matter.”

Mr Buttimer said O’Donoghue had been very emotional following the announcement of the verdict. He said O’Donoghue understood the matter had been very difficult for everyone concerned, not least the Holohan family.

He said O’Donoghue’s parents, whom he spoke to afterwards, were deeply relieved that the verdict had been recorded in the fashion in which it had.

“They are very, very relieved. They too likewise feel very, very much for the Holohan family,” he said.