Garda file on West Cork death set for DPP
It will then be up to the DPP to decide whether further charges are to made against a man who has already admitted to falsely imprisoning the 60-year-old woman from Kilbrittain.
Malachy Boohig, state solicitor for West Cork, told a court in Bandon yesterday that gardaí had “worked above and beyond the call of duty to put together what is a very substantial file” on the killing of widow Anne Corcoran.
Oliver Hayes, a 49-year-old from 10 Clancool Terrace, Bandon, Co Cork, has already been charged with falsely imprisoning the widow at Maulnaskimlahane, Bandon, on a date unknown between January 19 and January 21 last.
Hundreds of volunteers and members of Ms Corcoran’s family took part in searches in the Bandon, Kinsale and Kilbrittain areas.
After 10 days gardaí discovered the widow’s body in a shallow grave in woods at Garrettstown, near Kinsale.
Hayes appeared in the district court for the fifth time yesterday and heard Mr Boohig ask Judge James McNulty that he be further remanded in custody to await the deliberations of the DPP on the Garda file.
Hayes’ solicitor, Joseph Cuddigan, objected to the further remand on the basis that his client had already spent 68 days in custody and had already admitted the charge of false imprisonment.
Mr Boohig said a further charge against Hayes might be considered and it was his hope the DPP would be able to give a direction within a fortnight of receiving the Garda file.
Judge McNulty said the court had to accept that an investigation of this kind was going to take some time to complete.
“It seems to me that the prosecution hasn’t to date been guilty of any unreasonable delay. I think the prosecution is entitled to some further time,” said Judge McNulty.
He then remanded Hayes in further custody to reappear before Bandon District Court on April 30 at 2pm.
The judge said a direction would be required by then from the DPP.
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