Courts / Cork / Report
Evidence in historic cold case 'insufficient' to prove murder, lawyers for ex-British army soldier argue
Summary
A former British Army soldier, Noel Long (77), is seeking to have his life sentence for murder overturned, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to prove intent. Long, who has 31 previous convictions, was found guilty in August 2023 for the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan, whose body was discovered in Shippool Woods, Co Cork. His legal team claims that the prosecution failed to prove that Long did more than assault the victim with slaps and punches to the head and face. They also argue that there was a prejudicial delay in bringing the case and that DNA evidence should not have been presented to the jury. During the appeal hearing, Long's legal team submitted that the trial judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, made errors in his charge to the jury regarding the definition of 'serious injury' and in not withdrawing the murder charge after the defense's evidence. The defense argues that the force described by the pathologist was not enough to prove intent to cause serious injury. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Evidence in historic cold case 'insufficient' to prove murder, lawyers for ex-British army soldier argue. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 6 Incident
- June 12, 1981 Other
- August 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-02-19 Publication
Why: It was also submitted that the trial judge did not put the defence case properly to the jury, as he failed to draw their attention to the argument that if the victim died unexpectedly in the course of a physical/sexual assault, that in itself would have provided a motive to hide the body. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Appellant
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) A former British Army soldier jailed for life after a cold case review ended in the oldest successful murder prosecution in Irish history has argued that his conviction should be quashed, as there was not enough evidence to prove the intent of murder.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
- 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
- Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
- ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
- 'No hand, act or part': Osgur Breatnach's wrongful conviction for Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice
- Migrant engineer who worked 10-hour days for under minimum wage wins €14k
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request