Cork man cleared of all charges in manslaughter case

The man accused of killing a young Cork woman and dumping her body in a river was cleared of all charges against him today.

The trial of Timothy (Tadgh) O'Driscoll, (aged 46) of New Street, Macroom, Co Cork, ended dramatically at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Patrick J Moran directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on the three charges against him, namely manslaughter, assault and preventing the legal burial of Michelle McCormick, (aged 23), of Glenamoy Lawn, Mayfield on July 20, 1993.

Kathleen McCormick, Michelle's mother, said afterwards that they, Michelle's family, were left hoping to find Michelle's remains.

The trial ended following days of legal argument in which the defence legal team challenged the admissibility of statements allegedly made by the accused.

They argued, successfully, that one question and answer session that lasted over an hour only had five questions and answers recorded. They argued this was inadequate.

They also argued successfully that O'Driscoll had not been properly cautioned in advance of another statement.

This trial opened last Wednesday and a detailed account was given by prosecution senior counsel John Edwards.

He said the prosecution case would show that O'Driscoll and Miss McCormick were in a caravan on Owenahincha, Co Cork when an argument developed, after which he struck her and her head struck against a partition wall.

She died and it was claimed that the accused wrapped her body and put it in a black plastic bag with stones and threw it over the bridge at Kinsale into the river.

A very unusual aspect of the case was that the prosecution was brought even though the remains of Miss McCormick were never found.