Man who murdered ex-girlfriend in grounds of Clare church loses bid to get out of prison

High Court judge said Raymond Donovan's claim had caused distress to the victim's family and should never have been taken

A 2009 file photo of Raymond Donovan of New Houses, Cooraclare, Co Clare. In June 2006 he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering Ann Walsh (23) in Kilrush Co Clare in 2005. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk

A man who murdered his ex-girlfriend in the grounds of a Co Clare church has lost his bid to get out of prison.

A High Court judge said the claim by Raymond Donovan should never have been taken.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons found there was “simply no basis" for Donovan claiming that the Court of Criminal Appeal had overturned his mandatory life sentence and substituted a 20-year term in its place.

Donovan, formerly of New Houses, Cooraclare, Co Clare, strangled his former girlfriend, Ann Walsh (23), to death on the grounds of St Senan's church, Kilrush Co Clare on August 24, 2005.

The judge also said the challenge had caused distress to the victim's family, should never have been taken, and "did not stand scrutiny".

Ann Walsh's family in court 

Ms Walsh's family were present in the High Court as was Donovan, who was in handcuffs and flanked by three prison officers. The family of Ms Walsh wore T-shirts with 'Justice for Ann Walsh' written on them with a photo of Ms Walsh.

Donovan launched a High Court bid for his release, claiming that in 2009 the Court of Appeal substituted his mandatory life sentence for one of 20 years' imprisonment, although he had no detention warrant proving the claim.

At his trial, he denied the murder charge but a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Ennis unanimously convicted him before Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced him to the mandatory term of life imprisonment in June 2006.

Donovan's bid to get out of prison

In a High Court application last week, Donovan’s legal team successfully applied to the High Court for permission to inquire into the legality of his detention.

Donovan made the application pursuant to Article 40.4.2 of the Constitution — also known as 'Habeas Corpus' — against the governor of Wheatfield Prison.

In a sworn affidavit, Donovan claimed that he has been imprisoned since August 24, 2005, and was convicted of murder in 2006. He submitted he had unsuccessfully appealed the conviction in 2009.

However, Donovan further submitted that while his appeal was unsuccessful, "the Court of Criminal Appeal substituted my sentence of life imprisonment to one of 20 years".

He claimed he had prison records that indicated a 20-year sentence for the murder but had no warrant document to confirm this from the Court of Appeal's decision.

High court dismisses claim

At the High Court on Monday Mr Justice Simons dismissed Donovan's claim saying it should "never" have been taken. The judge said there was no blame to be apportioned towards Donovan's legal team.

Mr Justice Simons said it must have been "devastating for the family" of Ms Walsh to think that Donovan might be released.

Donovan had submitted that "despite numerous requests to prison authorities for sight of, or a copy of, the warrant from the Court of Appeal there appeared to be no record of this warrant".

In his submissions, Donovan claimed that "prison authorities do not have the necessary documents that are sufficient to detain me in prison".

John P Gallagher BL, instructed by the Chief State Solicitors' Office, told Mr Justice Simons that the Central Criminal Court warrant for Donovan's life imprisonment was an "uncontroversial" document and that there was "no other conceivable penalty" other than life imprisonment in this jurisdiction for the murder.

The body of 23-year-old Ann Walsh was found behind St Senan's Church in Kilrush Co Clare in 2005. Raymond Donovan, previously of New Houses, Cooraclare, Co Clare, was found guilty of her murder in 2006. Picture: PicSure

Mr Gallagher said that if Donovan's position was that there was a document in existence substituting a 20-year sentence for one of life imprisonment on a failed appeal at the Criminal Court of Appeal it would have been a "landmark event" in Donovan's life and that he should be in possession of it.

Mr Justice Simons said it was "perfectly clear" the Central Criminal Court could not direct any other sentence than the mandatory life imprisonment for the offence of murder and that there could be "no complaint" regarding the legality of Donovan's detention.

The judge said the Court of Criminal Appeal had rejected "in its entirety" Donovan's 2009 challenge against his conviction and that the Central Criminal Court had been "perfectly clear" in its decision.

He said there was "simply no basis" regarding Donovan's question of legality over his imprisonment and refused the application saying it "did not stand scrutiny".