Man charged with falsely imprisoning west Cork woman

A 49-YEAR-OLD part-time painter and decorator was last night remanded in custody after he was charged with falsely imprisoning…

A 49-YEAR-OLD part-time painter and decorator was last night remanded in custody after he was charged with falsely imprisoning a west Cork woman missing from her home for over two weeks.

Oliver Hayes from Clancool Terrace, Bandon, was brought before a special sitting of Bandon District Court last night where he was charged with falsely imprisoning Anne Corcoran at her home at Maulnaskimlehane, Kilbrittain, on a date unknown between January 19th and January 21st, 2009.

Det Garda Jim Fitzgerald gave evidence that he had arrested Mr Hayes at Weir Street, Bandon, at 3.51pm yesterday and charged him at 4.50pm and that Mr Hayes had nothing to say in reply to the charge.

Supt Eddie Mac Eoin said that gardaí were seeking a remand in custody to Kinsale District Court next Thursday. Mr Hayes’s solicitor, Plunkett Taaffe, said that his client was not seeking bail at this stage but that he was applying for free legal aid as his circumstances were not great.

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Judge James McNulty noted that Mr Hayes was not in receipt of social welfare and granted him free legal aid before remanding him in custody to Cork prison to appear again at Kinsale District Court next Thursday.

Mr Hayes did not speak during the six-minute hearing but spoke briefly with his solicitor after the case before being brought to a waiting unmarked Garda car outside the courthouse.

A crowd of about 300 people shouted abuse at Mr Hayes as he was being brought into court.

Earlier Judge McNulty granted applications by Supt Mac Eoin to have crime scene designations at both Kilmore, Garrettstown and Clancool Terrace, Bandon extended to allow for further forensic examination to be carried out by Garda technical experts.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times