Courts / Cork / Report

Jury returns with guilty verdict in oldest murder prosecution in Irish history

Date
2023-08-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for Noel Long, a 74‑year‑old former British Army soldier, in the oldest murder prosecution in Irish history. Long, who has prior sexual and assault convictions, was found guilty of murdering 42‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in June 1981. The jury accepted the State's case that DNA from semen found on Sheehan's body matched DNA from Long's clothing, and that fibres and paint fragments from the victim matched those from Long's car. The defence argued that the State failed to prove intent and that the case could be manslaughter, but the jury rejected this. The verdict was reached after 5 hours and 32 minutes of deliberation. The judge thanked the jurors and indicated that a mandatory life sentence would be handed down shortly. The Sheehan family was expected to address the court about the impact of the loss. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury returns with guilty verdict in oldest murder prosecution in Irish history. Charges or matters: murdering 54-year-old Mrs Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981 at an unknown place within the State. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 1981 Incident
July 13 Hearing Or Sentence
June 6 Other
June 12, 1981 Other
2023-08-04 Publication

Why: Mr Delaney asked the jurors to consider if there would have been a motive for someone to conceal Mrs Sheehan's body if she had died from a heart attack in the course of a physical and sexual assault. CNI source report