Scientist tells court he preserved key forensic evidence from body of Nora Sheehan in 1981

Timothy Creedon said he had been on holiday in Inishannon, Co Cork when Mrs Sheehan's body was discovered, and he later took swabs from her body

Noel Long, 74, with an address at Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981, at an unknown place within the State. File picture: Collins Courts

The scientist who preserved key forensic evidence taken from the body of Cork woman Nora Sheehan 42 years ago happened to be on holiday at the time just kilometres from where her body was found, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Noel Long, 74, with an address at Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981, at an unknown place within the State. Her body was found by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork six days after she went missing.