Witness: Murder accused claimed woman accidently fell into sea

A witness told the Central Criminal Court yesterday the man accused of murdering Sandra Collins 14 years ago told him that she accidentally fell into the sea while he was with her at Killala Pier.

Michael Grenaghan, a civil engineer, told Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury that Martin Earley, aged 49, of Banagher, Carrowmore Lacken, Ballina, stayed with him overnight on March 23, 2011, after ringing him and telling him he was “in trouble”.

Mr Earley, a construction worker, denies murdering Ms Collins, of Courthouse St, Killala, at a place unknown on or about December 4, 2000.