Courts / Cork / Report
'Through the Briars': the trial of Noel Long
Summary
In early summer 2023, Noel Long received a call from Detective Inspector Eamonn Brady about new evidence in the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan. Long declined to meet with Gardaí or discuss the evidence, stating he wanted no involvement. The article recounts the 1981 discovery of Sheehan's body in Shippool Woods, describing the scene, the victim's injuries, and the forensic work that linked fibres and paint from Long's 1981 Opel Kadett to the victim. It details the 2008 DNA review that produced a partial male profile from a semen sample, later matched to DNA on a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. The article also notes the defence's challenge to the reliability of the Low Copy Number DNA method and the State Pathologist's statement that Sheehan's cause of death was unascertained.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Through the Briars': the trial of Noel Long. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 12, 1981 Other
- Saturday June 6, 1981 Other
- June 6 Other
- June 7 Other
- June 9 Other
- June 16, 1981 Incident
- December 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2008 Incident
- 2023-08-04 Publication
Why: "Dr Whitaker couldn't say whether the amount of DNA tested in this case from the vaginal swab was above or below that threshold and he couldn't say that because the amount of DNA wasn't quantified before it was tested," Mr Delaney reminded the jury. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Places mentioned
- meet them at Bandon Garda Station
- Bandon
- in accommodation adjoining the garda station
- then went to Togher Garda Station
- drive to the Bridewell Garda Station
- Inishannon
- Cork city
- Vicars Road
- Jonesborough
- Central Criminal Court
- South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
- Vicars Street
- Curraheen Road
Topics
Related court reports
- ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
- Seamstress treated 'shabbily' after 17 years at Cork shop wins €76k
- Pub ordered to pay €10k for 'humiliating' remark about barman by company boss
- Former accountant went on 'nationwide tour' with bank card stolen from hospital patient
- Car salesman sacked over 'around the corner deal' wins €10k
- Salesman who alleged 'corruption' and 'crazy' discount in Saudi deal loses penalisation case
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request