Mother died of head injuries due to blunt force trauma

A MOTHER of three died of blunt force trauma, a coroner’s court heard yesterday. Nicola Collins was found with head injuries in a flat in a north Cork suburb earlier this year.

Emergency services summoned to the flat at Popham’s Road, Farranree, in the early hours of March 27 last had battled to save the life of Nicola Collins, 36, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yesterday, assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told Cork Coroner’s Court that Ms Collins had died of head injuries due to blunt force trauma.

After a request by Garda Inspector Declan O’Sullivan that the hearing be adjourned because a man has been charged with Ms Collins’s murder, Cork city coroner Philip Comyn adjourned the inquest until the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

Ms Collins, originally from Tralee, Co. Cork, lived on Clashduv Road, Togher, Cork,

Cathal O’Sullivan, aged 44, of Popham’s Road, Farranree, appeared before Cork District Court on August 23 when he was remanded in custody.

Appearing at the brief hearing before Judge David Waters, Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan said he arrested Mr O’Sullivan outside Mayfield Garda Station.

He said that when the murder charge was put to him under caution, he replied: ‘Not guilty.’

Other than to confirm his identity, Mr O’Sullivan said nothing during the brief hearing.

His solicitor Joe Cuddigan was granted free legal aid after the court heard he survived only on a disability grant.

After gardaí applied for him to be remanded in custody, and a date was set for his next court appearance.