Accused in tears after acquittal for murder

Construction worker Martin Early broke down in tears and hugged members of his legal team in court after a jury, on the directions of a judge, acquitted him of the murder of a young, pregnant, woman almost 14 years ago.

The 50-year-old plasterer had been on trial for 17 days at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Castlebar, Co Mayo, for the murder of Sandra Collins, aged 29, Courthouse Street, Killala, at a place and date unknown on or about December 4, 2000.

No trace of Miss Collins’ body has ever been found.