Corkman found guilty of murdering woman

A 24-year-old Cork man has been convicted at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of a 46-year-old woman during a robbery at her flat in Cork city centre.

After deliberating for three hours, the jury found Brian Walsh from Leitrim Street, Cork City, guilty of the murder of Ms Nora Kiely, at her flat in Leitrim Street on July 15, 2002.

The jury is still considering a murder charge against Walsh’s co-accused, Thomas Penkert.

During the trial, the court heard that Brian Walsh used a large knife on Ms Kiely's body after she died to make it appear like suicide.

He had denied the charge but pleaded guilty to the theft of less than €20 in cash and jewellery from Ms Kiely from that date.

The jury has heard that Ms Kiely died from forced compression to the neck. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said the forensic evidence was "highly suggestive" of an attempted sexual assault.

After more than eight hours of deliberations, the jury was sent to a hotel for the second consecutive night when they failed to reach a verdict on Thomas Penkert.

They resume deliberations today.