Three walk free from Cork teenagers' death case

Three of the six men on trial on charges arising out of a series of incidents culminating in the death of two teenagers on the road in Knocknaheeny last May were found not guilty this afternoon and walked free from the case.

A fourth man was found not guilty on one charge and he continues on trial on a second charge. Two other men also remain on trial before Judge Patrick J. Moran and a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

James Quilligan (aged 23) of St Martin’s Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Shane Ahern (aged 21) formerly of Willow Bank, Fairhill, Cork, and Thomas Murphy (aged 42) of Spriggs Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, no longer have any part in the trial.

Judge Moran directed the jury to find Quilligan, Ahern and Thomas Murphy not guilty by direction of the trial judge on the only charge which each of them faced, namely falsely imprisoning Darren Lenehan at Hollywood Estate, Blarney Road, Cork, on Thursday May 13.

Judge Moran said to the jury: “We have had a considerable legal discussion since I last saw you. As a result of that I have come to certain conclusions which is my duty when legal matters arise.”

The judge then directed them to return the particular not guilty verdicts. “There are legal reasons for it which I don’t propose going into. I would be an hour explaining.”

Judge Moran then said they were about to embark on a further legal discussion and he sent them away until today.

Philip Murphy (aged 40) of 5Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, Cork, was similarly found not guilty by direction on the same charge of falsely imprisoning Mr Lenehan.

Philip Murphy and James Simms (aged 27) of Adelaide Terrace, Cork, both remain on trial on the charge of dangerous driving of cars on Friday May 14 on Harbour View Road causing the death of CJ Dolan (aged 16) and Derry O’Callaghan (aged 19).

A sixth man, John Heaphy (aged 24) of Oak Drive, Classis Lake, Ballincollig, Co Cork, remains on trial on the single count of threatening to damage property at Spriggs Road.