Hotel worker murderer appeals for possessions

A Portuguese man, jailed for life for the murder of a young Cork hotel worker, made a second attempt in court today to have his personal belongings returned.

Paulo Nascimento, aged 27, from The Algarve in Portugal, received a life sentence after he was convicted of killing Cork woman Grainne Dillon, aged 24, who was murdered while working at Jury’s Inn in Limerick city on January 5, 2001.

The 27-year-old Portugese national had been working as a night porter at the hotel where the murder victim worked as receptionist.

Mr Nascimento pleaded guilty to her murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin where he was jailed for life.

Today, at Limerick District Court, Mr Nascimento appeared again in connection with an application to have his personal belongings returned.

Previously, the court heard that the items in question had been used by gardaí as exhibits during the murder trial.

Earlier today, Inspector Tom O’Brien requested that the case be adjourned until after the inquest into Ms Dillon’s death, which is scheduled to take place on May 11.

Judge Tom O’Donnell granted the request and adjourned the matter until May 19.

Judge O’Donnell said he’d “like the matter to go ahead on that date” as this was the second time it had come before the court.

Dressed in a blue-coloured hoodie, Mr Nascimento remained silent throughout today’s brief court hearing.