Courts / Cork / Report
Adjournment in cold case murder trial
Summary
The cold‑case murder trial of Noel Long, accused of killing 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981, was adjourned to Monday because a juror fell ill. Judge Paul McDermott informed the remaining eleven jurors that the case would continue with a reduced jury. Long, 74, lives in Passage West, Cork, and has pleaded not guilty. The trial has focused on DNA evidence: UK forensic scientist Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker presented a DNA profile from semen recovered from Sheehan's body, matched to material from Long's belongings, with a one‑in‑20,000 chance of a different source. The prosecution highlighted bruising and spermatozoa found in Sheehan's vagina, and the post‑mortem was conducted by Dr Robert Dermot Coakley in 1981. The hearing will resume on Monday with the same jury composition.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Adjournment in cold case murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981 at an unknown place within the State. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 6 Other
- June 12, 1981 Other
- June 13, 1981 Other
- August 1981 Other
- May 9, 2022 Other
- May 2022 Other
- December 1, 2021 Other
- December 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2021 Other
- 2023-07-21 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981 at an unknown place within the State (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: The trial broke for lunch at 1.20pm today but when the jurors returned to the court after 2pm they were told by the judge that one of their colleagues was not well and that the trial would be adjourned until Monday.
Places mentioned
Topics
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