Two charged with Corkman's murder

Two men were arrested and charged today with the murder of Christian Scully at Sober Lane, Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, last year.

Paul Sheehan (aged 20) of Arderrin Way, the Glen, Cork, and of no fixed address, and Ross Stapleton (aged 21) of no fixed address were both charged with assault causing serious harm to Christian Scully (aged 28) and were both charged with murdering Mr Scully at Sober Lane.

Detective Garda Charlie O’Toole said that neither of the accused made any reply after they were charged and cautioned.

Judge Uinsin MacGruairc remanded them in custody until January 29 at Cork District Court for service of books of evidence.

Sheehan and Stapleton were previously charged with assault causing serious harm to Mr Scully on January 28.

The victim was on a life support machine after the incident at the centre of the case and he died on October 17.

Now that murder charges have been brought against the two defendants their case will ultimately go before the Central Criminal Court, Inspector Charlie Barry said.

The murder charge against each defendant refers to only one date, namely October 17 when Mr Scully died.

The charge reads: "on October 17 2002 at Sober Lane, Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, in said district court area of Cork City, District Number 19, you did murder Christian Scully."

Solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, represented Sheehan.

On behalf of Stapleton, solicitor, Joseph Cuddigan argued that the book of evidence should have been served today as it would have been the same as the previous book of evidence in respect of assault, but for the addition of a pathologist’s report and maybe one other report.

Inspector Barry said the State had 42 days in which to serve the book.