Man charged with slurry pit body murder

A MAN has been remanded in custody after being charged yesterday with the murder of a new-age traveller whose body was found dumped in a slurry tank in west Cork almost three years ago.

Jason Thomas, 38, and of no fixed abode, was arrested at Cork Airport on Wednesday night following his extradition from Britain on foot of a European arrest warrant.

He was brought before a vacation sitting of Clonakilty District Court yesterday morning where he was charged with the murder of Gary Bull, 37, at Shanlaragh, Dunmanway, Co Cork, on or about September 23, 2007.

Detective Garda Maurice Shanley gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and Inspector Colin Collins applied for a remand in custody.

Judge Tim Lucey remanded the accused in custody to appear before the next vacation sitting of Clonakilty District Court on August 12 for service of the book of evidence.

Thomas is the third person to be charged with Mr Bull’s murder. Last May, Scottish-born Amanda McNab, 25, and Fermoy native Una Geaney, 44, both with addresses at Mullinagleamig, Dingle, Co Kerry, were also charged in connection with the murder.

Mr Bull’s body was found in a slurry pit at the farm at Shanlaragh, north of Dunmanway, on October 10, 2007. Gardaí had to drain the slurry pit and enter it wearing special breathing apparatus before they could remove the remains.

A postmortem by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster revealed he had died from head injuries consistent with being struck with a blunt instrument.

A native of Hertfordshire, Mr Bull had been living in a mobile home in Kilmichael between Dunmanway and Macroom.

He had been involved with a 200-strong new-age traveller community in nearby Coole Mountain since about 2004.

Two men and a woman have already appeared before the courts in relation to withholding information from Gardaí investigating the murder and all three have received suspended sentences at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.