Courts / Cork / Report

'Mystery' how over 300 exhibits in oldest murder case in Irish history were lost, court told

Date
2026-02-17

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

The Court of Appeal was told it is a mystery how over 300 physical exhibits from the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan were lost, including a vaginal swab that could have yielded further DNA evidence. Noel Long, now 77, was convicted of the murder in 2023 after a DNA match between semen found on the victim and DNA from his clothing. Long's defense argued that the 42-year delay in bringing the case breached his right to a fair and expeditious trial. They also claimed that the loss of exhibits, including the vaginal swab, prejudiced his case. The prosecution countered that the delay was not sufficient to presume prejudice and that the DNA evidence was crucial to the conviction. They emphasized that the case was not dropped in 1981 but was revived after a DNA breakthrough in 2008. The trial judge ruled that the delay was not enough to affect the fairness of the trial, and the prosecution argued that the evidence was compelling enough to secure a conviction despite the passage of time.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Mystery' how over 300 exhibits in oldest murder case in Irish history were lost, court told. Charges or matters: murdering Mrs Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981, at an unknown location within the State. Procedural stage: appeal

When: