Courts / Laois / Report
Murder accused said he killed Laois nanny because pregnancy would scupper relationship with ex
Summary
The 25‑year‑old accused, Robert Corbet, told detectives that he killed Laois nanny Aoife Phelan because she was pregnant and he feared the pregnancy would ruin his relationship with his ex‑girlfriend. Corbet admitted to killing Phelan between 25 October and 7 November, when her body was found in a barrel buried about ten feet deep on his property. He said he had strangled her after an argument about their relationship, describing how he put a black bag over her head and sealed the barrel before leaving it in a shed. Corbet also admitted that he had flown to New York to visit his ex‑girlfriend the following evening, and that he had wanted to "sort everything out" with Phelan before that trip. The trial is proceeding before a jury and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. The court heard that Corbet had denied involvement in Phelan's disappearance but admitted to killing her after phone records were presented to him. The unnamed 25-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murder accused said he killed Laois nanny because pregnancy would scupper relationship with ex. Charges or matters: murdering Ms Phelan. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- October 25th Hearing Or Sentence
- November 7th Hearing Or Sentence
- November 8th Other
- 2014-05-19 Publication
Why: The man charged with murdering Laois nanny Aoife Phelan told detectives that he killed her because her pregnancy was going to scupper his relationship with his ex-girlfriend. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Ms Phelan (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Capoley. The Central Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
- Balaclava attacker claims car search breached his rights
- Lithuanian man admits engaging in terrorist plot to attack mosque
- Mosque bomb attack accused argues he can't get a fair trial
- Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
- Seven years for sex offender who repeatedly recorded himself assaulting sleeping woman
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request