Two men said 'no comment' when gardaí put allegations central to Kieran Quilligan case to them

The court heard the prosecution view that Kieran Quilligan (pictured) was subjected to a brutal assault at St. Fin Barre’s Place on September 1, 2023. Photo: Facebook

Allegations were put to the two men accused of murdering Kieran Quilligan that the deceased was beaten in a laneway and taken away in the boot of a car and both men replied: “No comment”, a judge and jury were told on Friday.

Detective Sergeant Niall Hayes interviewed Niall Long and Detective Sergeant Brian Maher interviewed Luke Taylor and both men replied: “No comment” when central parts of the prosecution case were put to them at interview.

The interviews were of a particular kind whereby the defendants were informed inferences could be drawn at trial from a failure to answer questions in these garda interviews.

It was put to them that the blood of the deceased man Kieran Quilligan was recovered in the boot of the Toyota Rav 4 on September 15, 2023, and that it was the belief of gardaí that Mr Quilligan was placed in this boot while bleeding and transported to a laneway at Cogan’s farm, Little Island, on September 1, 2023.

Also, Niall Long (pictured) made no comment to evidence that blood of Kieran Quilligan was found on a brush and on a tag of part of a t-shirt in a white bucket seized by gardaí outside Mr Long’s home in Mahon.

The prosecution view was also expressed that they were present at St. Fin Barre’s Place between 9.12pm and 9.16pm on September 1, 2023, and that this was the location where Mr Quilligan was subjected to a brutal assault and placed in the boot of the Toyota Rav 4, taken to the laneway at Cogan’s farm and then taken out of the boot.

It was put to the two defendants that after 3am on September 4, 2023, the remains of Kieran Quilligan were removed from that location and taken to Whitewell, Rostellan, and placed in a wooded area where the remains were ultimately discovered.

Both Niall Long and Luke Taylor replied “No comment” to these allegations, having been advised that inferences could be drawn from any failure to comment.

In addition, Niall Long made no comment to evidence that blood of Kieran Quilligan was found on a brush and on a tag of part of a t-shirt in a white bucket seized by gardaí outside Mr Long’s home in Mahon.

27-year-old Luke Taylor, formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, and 33-year-old Niall Long, formerly of St. Michael’s Close, Mahon, Cork, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork facing the same charge of murder.

The murder count which each man denies, states that on a date unknown between September 1, 2023, and January 29, 2024, at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork City he did murder Kieran Quilligan, aged 47, contrary to Common Law.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and the ten men and two women of the jury.