Suspected killer ‘sorry for what happened’

A MARRIED father-of- two said “I’m very sorry for what happened” when charged with the murder of Deirdre McCarthy, a court heard yesterday.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court, Colm Deeley, aged 39, of School Rd, Ballvaughan, was charged with the murder of guesthouse worker, Ms McCarthy, aged 43, at a place unknown in Co Clare on March 28.

Ms McCarthy’s body was found washed up on the shore at Fanore beach on March 31, following a three-day search.

Ms McCarthy was last seen alive on Sunday, March 27, and was reported missing the following day. Ms McCarthy’s funeral took place on Tuesday in Ballvaughan.

Det Garda Thomas Molloy of Ennistymon Garda Station gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Deeley at Ennis Garda Station at 8.14pm on Wednesday.

Det Garda Molloy said, after caution Deeley said, “I’m very sorry for what happened.”

Relatives and friends of Ms McCarthy sat at the back of the court for yesterday’s five-minute hearing, with relatives of Deeley sitting on the opposite side of the court.

Dressed in a navy pants, navy jumper, white shirt and black shoes, Deeley remained impassive during the short hearing.

Solicitor for Deeley, Gearóid Geraghty, told the court that Deeley is a married man with two young children.

Making an application for legal aid, Mr Geraghty said that his client is a part-time Fás worker employed three days a week.

He said: “Mr Deeley is not a man of means and given the nature of the charge, it is an appropriate case for legal aid.”

Judge Joseph Mangan granted legal aid.

Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan, from Ennistymon Garda station, asked that Deeley be remanded in custody to Ennistymon District Court sitting in Kilrush next Wednesday, April 13.

After Deeley was led away by gardaí, relatives of Ms McCarthy and Deeley left the courtroom by separate exits.