PAIR FACE KIERAN MURDER CHARGE
Emotional scenes as two men in court over death of missing 47-year-old
TWO men have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kieran Quilligan whose remains were found in scrubland last month.
Det Garda Brian Barron gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Niall Long.
The 31-year-old is charged with murdering Mr Quilligan on a date unknown between September 1, 2023, and January 29, 2024.
Det Garda Barron told the court that Long, of St Michael’s Close in Mahon in Cork city, made no reply when the charge was put to him under caution.
He had been arrested at his home on February 5.
Sgt Pat Lyons said the application of the State was for a one week remand in custody for DPP directions.
However, he indicated that he didn’t expect directions in the case to be available when Long appears before the court next by video link next Tuesday.
Defence solicitor Shane Collins Daly said that his client understood that he was unable to apply for bail in the case in the District court.
When a person is facing a charge of murder bail can only be applied for in the High Court.
Judge Mary Dorgan granted free legal aid in the case as the defendant is unemployed. Mr Collins Daly said that Long had been in the process of applying for disability benefit.
As Long was being brought back to the custody area some members of the Quilligan family became emotional and shouted in his direction.
As they left the courtroom one male member of the family said “we apologise your honour” to Judge Dorgan.
A few minutes later Det Garda Anne O’sullivan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in the case of Luke Taylor who is facing the same charge as his co-accused.
Det Garda O’sullivan said that the 26-year-old said he “didn’t murder no one” when the charge was put to him under caution.
Judge Mary Dorgan also remanded Taylor in custody to appear before the court again next Tuesday for DPP directions. Taylor is of no fixed address but formerly resided in Cherry Lawn in Blackrock in Cork.
He will appear by video link from prison when he is next before the court.
Mr Quilligan, 47, was from Baker’s Road in Gurranabraher on the northside of Cork city.
His body was recovered in Rostellan, Co Cork, on January 29. He had been reported missing in September of last year.
His body was taken to the mortuary in Cork University Hospital where a postmortem was carried out by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster who also visited the scene where the remains were found.
The remains were identified by DNA analysis.