Emotional scenes as accused arrives in court

There were emotional scenes at Cork District Court today as the family of a man whose body was found at Blackrock Castle shouted "murderer" as an accused man arrived in court.

Martin O'Leary, aged 25, of no fixed address, is charged with the murder of Derek O'Connell, aged 27, at Blackrock Castle in Cork on September 15.

His case was adjourned on the application of Inspector Denis O'Shea until Wednesday.

As Judge Uinsin MacGruairc was remanding him in custody, family members of the deceased shouted "murderer" and "scumbag" at the accused.

A second man, Philip Dorney, aged 24, of Nutley Avenue, Mahon, Cork, was in court on a charge of intimidating an unnamed witness in the case causing an obstruction, perversion or interference with the case.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer applied for bail to be granted to Dorney but Detective Garda Paul Lynch said the State was opposed to this application.

The detective said it was feared that Dorney would interfere with witnesses in the case if released on bail.

The judge remanded him in custody until Wednesday.

A witness who lives in the general area of Mahon, Peter O'Leary, aged around 20, said he and others were threatened by Dorney that "we would be shot if we rat".

Dorney denied making any such threat to Peter O'Leary or to anyone else.

The detective said there were others who were to come to court to give evidence but were afraid to do so and one man was so afraid he was sick in bed today.