This article is from page 4 of the 2011-04-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A 39-YEAR-OLD Ballyvaughan man charged with the murder of Deirdre McCarthy apologised for what had happened when charged and cautioned by gardaí.
Colm Deely, with an address on School Road in Ballyvaughan, was remanded in custody to appear before Ennistymon District Court, sitting in Kilrush, by Judge Joseph Mangan, tomorrow morning, April 13.
Detective Thomas Molloy of Ennistymon Garda Station said the defendant replied, “I’m very sorry for what happened” when he was charged.
The father of two, who wore a navy jumper, navy slacks and a white shirt, sat silently with his eyes lowered during the brief hearing.
An application for legal aid was made by solicitor Gearoid Geraghty on behalf of Mr Deely. He said the defendant was a married man with two young children and was on a part-time FÁS course three days a week.
A number of members of Deirdre McCarthy’s family, as well as relatives of the defendant, sat on either side of the courtroom during the hearing.
The body of Deirdre McCarthy was found at Fanore beach on the morning of March 31, three days after she was reported missing from her home. She was last seen alive on March 27 around 11.30pm, when she returned home after a night socialising with friends in Ballyvaughan.
Her disappearance prompted one of the largest searches undertaken in North Clare in recent time. Family and friends joined with members of the gardaí and the Doolin and Killaloe Units of the Irish Coastguard to begin a painstaking three-day search for missing woman.