Robert Corbet pleaded not guilty to Aoife Phelan murder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Robert Corbet, 25, of Sheffield Cross, Co Laois, pleaded not guilty to murdering Aoife Phelan, 30, between 25 October and 7 November 2012. He admitted manslaughter on 13 May 2014.

The trial began at the Central Criminal Court on 14 May 2014 before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury. The proceedings were reported on 14 May 2014.

The report said Ms Phelan’s body was later found in an oil barrel at Capoley in Portlaoise. The court heard that she had told her parents she was pregnant. Mr Corbet said in a statement that they had not had penetrative sex and said it was physically impossible for him to be the father.

The trial was continuing.