Man pleads guilty to Gillespie murder

A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the murder of Eugene Gillespie in Sligo.

Simon McGinley, of Connaughton Road, Sligo, who handed himself in at Sligo Garda Station on Friday night, was remanded in custody until Oct 5 when he appeared before a special sitting of Carrick on Shannon District Court yesterday.

He is charged with the murder of Mr Gillespie at Old Market Street between Sept 19 and 21.

Inspector Jim Delaney told the court that when he put the charge to the accused at 1.13am yesterday morning, the defendant had replied “guilty”.

Insp Delaney agreed with Keith O’Grady BL, counsel for the accused, that McGinley had attended voluntarily at the Garda station just after 10pm on Friday and had “essentially handed himself in”.

He also agreed that McGinley had been in a distraught state since handing himself in and had been examined twice by a GP. Counsel asked Judge Kevin Kilrane to ensure that the defendant received psychiatric assessment while in custody, and to order that he be placed on suicide watch.

Pressed by Judge Kilrane on whether it was necessary to put the defendant on suicide watch, Mr O’Grady said Gerard McGovern, solicitor for the accused, had visited him in custody and had expressed very serious concerns as to his well-being.

He added that the defendant’s mother had also expressed concerns and had referred to a family tragedy in recent years.

Remanding McGinley to appear at Harristown Court at Castlerea prison next Friday, Judge Kilrane recommended he receive immediate psychiatric assessment and if the doctor deemed it appropriate, the defendant would then be put on suicide watch.

Legal aid was granted to McGinley, who was dressed in jeans and a causal blue jacket.