Corkman charged with murder of young father

Gardaí in Cork arrested a man today and charged him with murdering a 20-year-old father of one almost three years ago.

Jerry Ross, aged 26, from 3 Philomena’s Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, made no reply when Garda James Nagle charged him with murdering John Butler on Gurranabraher Road on October 7, 2002.

Judge Con O’Leary remanded Ross in custody for a week for preparation and service of the book of evidence, on the application of Inspector Charlie Barry.

A co-accused who was charged with the same murder last week, Cecil Lynch, aged 26, from St. Declan’s Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was also remanded in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on October 26.

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor for Ross, said that an application for bail would be a matter for the High Court in Dublin. Lynch is represented by Donal Daly, solicitor.

Diane Hallihan, solicitor, was also present for the cases yesterday. She has a watching brief on behalf of the family of the late John Butler. No evidence in relation to the murder allegation was given in court yesterday.

Last Friday at Ennis District Court, Cecil Lynch, was charged with the murder.

During that hearing, Detective Sergeant Denis Cahill said that Lynch had been deported from the USA for breaches of immigration law and he was arrested at Shannon Airport at 5.40am last Friday.