Jury in Macroom murder trial sent out to allow for legal argument

Jury of nine men and three women in the trial of a man and women accused of murdering Michael Foley will return for resumption of evidence on Friday

Michael Foley, 61, whose dead body was found in his kitchen in a pool of blood, suffered 11 stab wounds, 19 slashes and multiple bruises and lacerations, pathologist told jury earlier this week.

The Macroom murder trial taking place at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork went on almost entirely in the absence of the jury on Thursday to allow for legal argument.

The nine men and three women were asked by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford to return for the resumption of evidence on Friday.

Michael Foley, 61, whose dead body was found in his kitchen in a pool of blood, suffered 11 stab wounds, 19 slashes and multiple bruises and lacerations, assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told them earlier in the week.

32-year-old Daniel Hourigan, who is originally from Farranree in Cork City, and 32-year-old Linda O'Flynn, who is originally from the Hollyhill area of Cork City, both deny the murder of Michael Foley at his home in Macroom between January 31 and February 1, 2024. 

Each defendant effectively blames the other. To the murder charge, each of them replied not guilty to murder but guilty of impeding the prosecution of another person.

One brief witness was heard today. Detective Sergeant Danielle Hegarty gave evidence of phone records related to the phone of 43-year-old Neringa Stalioniene, who used to stay at the home of Michael Foley occasionally.

Evidence was previously given that after being in the room she was allowed to use in the house overnight on January 31/February 1, 2024, Michael Foley told her to leave at 7.30am on February 1, and that she did so but returned five hours later and only went as far as just inside the front door, where she heard Michael Foley saying to get out of his house when he was out of her view, sounding like he was drunk and that something was in his throat.

Thursday’s phone evidence was that on that day, February 1, last year there were calls from Ms Stalioniene’s phone to Michael Foley’s phone, principally eight unanswered calls between 8.47am and 12.30pm.