'Through the briars': How Noel Long came to be on trial for a 40-year-old murder

A series of pure chances, from forestry workers looking for dumped rubbish to a forensic scientist on holiday in West Cork in 1981, led to the conviction of Noel Long for the murder of Nora Sheehan

The Sheehan family: Katie Sheehan, James Sheehan, and Bernie Sheehan outside the Central Criminal Court on Friday after Noel Long was convicted of the murder of Nora Sheehan. Picture: Collins Courts

In early summer last year, Noel Long received a telephone call. A detective inspector identified himself before going on to explain that the Garda investigation into the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan, now the longest running murder case in Irish history, remained live. There was also, the Garda officer explained, new evidence.

Detective Inspector Eamonn Brady advised Long to contact his lawyers, as gardaí wished to put this new material to him. As they now had no power to arrest or detain him, they asked if he would meet them at Bandon Garda Station on a voluntary basis.