Robert Holohan’s parents expecting their fourth child

THE mother of 11-year-old schoolboy Robert Holohan who died in tragic circumstances more than three years ago is expecting her fourth child later this year.

Majella and Mark Holohan, from Ballyedmond near Midleton, Co Cork, are anticipating the birth of their new child at the end of September.

Mr Holohan confirmed the pregnancy over the weekend saying that “everybody around the town” knew of the impending birth.

The Holohans already have two other children Emma, aged 11, and Harry, aged 7, in addition to the late Robert.

Robert Holohan had been last seen leaving his home on the outskirts of Midleton on January 4, 2005. His disappearance led to one of the largest searches in the state for a missing person.

On January 12, 2005, Robert’s body was found in a ditch at Inch strand, about 20km from his home.

Robert was buried on January 15 and within 24 hours his 21-year-old neighbour, Wayne O’Donoghue, admitted his involvement in the death.

O’Donoghue of Ballyedmond, Midleton, Co Cork, denied the murder at Ballyedmond but he admitted manslaughter.

The student insisted that Robert died accidentally after he placed him in a head-lock and then caught him by the throat following a confrontation over O’Donoghue’s refusal to drive the boy to McDonald’s for a milk shake.

O’Donoghue received a four-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of Robert after being acquitted of the boy’s murder. Robert’s mother, Majella Holohan, revealed in an victim impact statement that semen had been found on her dead child’s hand.

In the wake of criticism of her statement from Justice Paul Carney last year, Mrs Holohan insisted the questions she raised were of “legitimate concern” and that any mother in the same predicament would have made the same decision.

Wayne O’Donoghue was released from prison in January, after serving almost exactly three years of a four-year sentence for the manslaughter of Robert.

Majella Holohan has frequently called for a reform of the judicial system so that the victims of crime have a greater say in the way justice is administered.