Two charged with murder at Cork District Court

Two men were today sent forward for trial at the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court, charged with the murder of a young Cork man last August.

Books of evidence were served at Cork District Court today on the two accused - John Brett (aged 24) of Leitrim Street, Cork, and Jason Quinlan (aged 29) who is originally from Ringmahon Close, Mahon but with an address at Loughmahon Drive, Mahon, Cork.

They are both charged with murdering Brian McKee (aged 24) who was stabbed at Ballinure Avenue, Mahon, Cork, on August 25.

The defendants were previously charged with assault causing harm to Mr McKee, but the assault charge was dropped as the charge was upgraded to murder earlier this month.

Judge Uinsin MacGruairc returned Quinlan and Brett to the Central Criminal Court, on the application of Inspector Michael Comyn.

The judge gave the defendants alibi warnings – a routine matter related to certain notices that must be given to the prosecution if a defendant intends to call evidence of being somewhere else at the time of the offence.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, applied for free legal aid to cover a barrister and senior counsel to represent Quinlan. Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, made a similar application in respect of Brett. Judge MacGruairc granted these applications.

It will now be a matter for the Central Criminal Court to fix a date for the murder trial. This could be held in Dublin or at the courthouse on Washington Street, Cork.