Garda continues evidence at Ballincollig murder trial

Gardai investigating the murder and rape of a 22 year-old woman in a Co Cork park in 2000 identified a motorbike recovered in a derelict stone house not far from the scene as that belonging to a man accused of the attack.

In the Central Criminal Court today Det Gda Ger O'Callaghan was continuing his evidence in the trial of an 18 year-old Cork man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The man has pleaded not guilty to the murder and rape of Ms Rachel Kiely at the Regional Park, Ballincollig, Co Cork on October 26, 2000.

Det Gda O'Callaghan identified the motorbike from a photograph as the same one the accused said he was driving in the park on the day of the young woman's death.

He also told the court that a red woollen cap with the Arsenal football logo on it was found near the bike.

"Near a derelict stone shed across the rugby pitch I saw a red woollen Arsenal hat on the wall of the entrance where the Yamaha motorcycle was," Det Gda O'Callaghan told Mr Patrick J Mc Carthy, prosecuting.

Det Gda Patrick Dolan who accompanied him gave evidence that the gardai removed the

motorbike from the scene and that he took possession of the hat. "I put it in an evidence bag, sealed it and kept it in my locker at Ballincollig Garda Station," he said.

The trial before Mr Justice Paul Butler is continuing.