I was afraid she’d escape... I thought I’d knock her out

OLIVER HAYES attended his camera club and had drinks afterwards while Anne Corcoran lay dead in his house, his murder trial heard.

Hayes, aged 49, of Clancool Terrace, Bandon, told gardaí he beat the widow unconscious on Monday, January 19, last year, after abducting her from her home at Maulnaskimlehane, Kilbrittain. He discovered she was dead the following morning but continued with his normal routine.

The painter has pleaded guilty to the 60-year-old widow’s manslaughter, but not guilty to murdering her between January 19 and 21, 2009. He admits falsely imprisoning her and stealing €3,000 from her bank account. The Central Criminal Court jury spent yesterday watching his Garda interview from last February. He’d already confessed to her killing but was giving a more detailed account.