Clare man jailed for life after woman's body found on beach

A Co Clare man has been jailed for life for the murder of a 43-year-old woman whose body was found on a beach two years ago.

Colm Deely of School Road, Ballyvaughan was found by a jury to have killed Deirdre McCarthy who was strangled in Co Clare on or about March 28, 2011.

The victim's sister Helen Geoghegan has told the Central Criminal Court of the family's devastation when Deirdre's body was found following an extensive search.

She said Colm Deely had been asked if he knew of her whereabouts and "he just stood there and blatantly said: 'No'."

Deirdre McCarthy was last seen after a Sunday night out with friends in Logues pub in Ballyvaughan.

Among those gathered in the bar was Deely – the man who strangled her and dumped her body which was found eight miles away washed up on Fanore Beach.

There had been an extensive search for the missing 43-year-old woman when she failed to show up at a friend’s house to babysit on Monday.

Today, through his defence counsel, Deely apologised to all concerned and said he had intended no harm.

Following his murder conviction yesterday evening, Mr Justice Barry White today imposed the mandatory life sentence today.