Extradited man accused of wife's murder has trial date set

A man who was extradited from Spain last week to face a charge of murdering his wife will go on trial in November at Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Colin Whelan (aged 33), of Clonard Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin arrived at Dublin airport on Friday night after his extradition from Spain following his arrest on the island of Majorca earlier this month.

He is charged with the murder of his wife Mary (aged 27), at their home on March 1, 2001.

Computer analyst Whelan was due to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in October last year but seven months earlier his car was found abandoned at Howth.

The accused appeared in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today where Detective Sergeant Patrick Marry, Balbriggan garda station gave evidence of having arrested Whelan at Dublin Airport at 9.25pm on Friday on foot of a bench warrant issued by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.

Detective Sergeant Marry told the court that he asked the accused if he wished to check the copy of the warrant against the original and went on to give him the legal caution.

The accused was subsequently brought before the District Court and remanded in custody until today's sitting of the Central Criminal Court. The chief state solicitor told the court that "in these circumstances" he was seeking a remand in custody.

Mr Justice Carney said he was certifying a breach of the bail bond. He directed that Mr Jimmy Brazil who went independent surety appear before the Central Criminal Court on Friday "to answer for the accused non attendance".

Mr Justice Carney remanded the accused in custody until November 8 for trial. Mr Luan O Braonain BL appearing for the accused, asked the court not to set that date because of the "great deal of publicity" surrounding this case.

However, the judge replied that "this case was due for trial in October and you know perfectly well why it did not go ahead. Very well, well I'm fixing it for that date.".

The court heard that the trial is expected to last two weeks.

The accused, who was clean-shaven, appeared in court wearing a dark grey suit, cream shirt and grey tie. He sat impassively throughout the short hearing as Detective Sergeant Marry have evidence of having executed the bench warrant at Dublin Airport.