Emotional outbursts in court as two men charged with Kieran Quilligan murder 

There were emotional outbursts at Cork District Court as a 31-year-old man was brought before the court charged with murdering 47-year-Kieran Quilligan.

Minutes later a 26-year-old man was also charged with the same count of murder.

The two Cork men were brought before Cork District Court charged with murdering Kieran Quilligan eight days after human remains found in East Cork and more than five months since he was reported missing.

Detective Garda Brian Barron arrested 31-year-old Niall Long and charged him with murder. The accused made no reply when cautioned.

He was arrested at his home on Monday February 5 and charged later in the day. He was brought before Cork District Court today where Judge Mary Dorgan presided.

There was silence as Mr Long was escorted into Cork District Court by a phalanx of garda officers. As the brief hearing ended and he was being brought back into the custodial area, members of the Quilligan family stood, shouted angrily in his direction from the body of the court.

One of the family turned briefly to the judge as they left the courtroom and said, “We apologise, your honour.” 

The charge states that on a date unknown between September 1 2023 and January 29 2024 at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork city he did murder Kieran Quilligan, contrary to Common Law.

Niall Long of 35 St. Michael’s Close, Mahon, Cork, was represented by Shane Collins-Daly solicitor who was granted free legal aid.

Because it is a murder charge it was not open to the accused to apply for bail at district court level. Mr Collins-Daly said a high court bail application would be made in the coming weeks.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him in custody for one week, on the application of Sergeant Pat Lyons, to allow time for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Minutes later, Detective Garda Anne O’Sullivan gave evidence of arresting 26-year-old Luke Taylor of no fixed address, and formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork. When charged with the same offence he replied, “Didn’t murder no one.” Like his co-accused, Mr Taylor was also remanded in custody until February 13. He was represented on free legal aid by Eddie Burke.

Gardaí confirmed last week that they had started a murder investigation following the discovery of human remains found on Monday, January 29, at Rostellan in east Cork.

Later in the week assistant state pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster carried out a post-mortem examination of the remains at Cork University Hospital. Following this, there was a DNA examination of samples sent to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory in Dublin, and confirmation that the remains were those of Mr Quilligan.

A Garda liaison officer has been keeping the Quilligan family briefed on developments.

The human remains were found at the bottom of an excavated ditch off the Midleton to Whitegate road past Whitewell Cross and the turn off for Rostellan, by a sniffer dog and his handlers.