Second man sent forward for trial on charge of murdering Kieran Quilligan

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024 - 19:32

Liam Heylin

A second man was sent forward for trial by judge and jury on a charge of murdering Kieran Quilligan, aged 47, whose remains were found following an extensive search in East Cork.

Niall Long, aged 32, formerly of 35 St Michael’s Close, Mahon, Cork — was served with a book of evidence today at Cork District Court.

On the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, Judge Mary Dorgan sent the case against him forward for trial by judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court. The judge also gave Mr Long the alibi warning whereby certain notices must be given to the State if there is to be an alibi defence.

Judge Dorgan granted the application by solicitor Shane Collins-Daly to extend free legal aid for a barrister and a senior counsel to represent him at the Central Criminal Court.

The murder count faced by Mr Long 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.

A second man was sent forward for trial by judge and jury on a charge of murdering Kieran Quilligan, aged 47, pictured, whose remains were found following an extensive search in East Cork.

Mr Long is on High Court bail which required an independent cash surety of €30,000, and he is also required to live outside of Cork city.

Co-accused, 26-year-old Luke Taylor of no fixed address, and formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, was sent forward to the Central Criminal Court last week on the same murder charge.

The late Mr Quilligan’s remains were found following an extensive search in East Cork.

Back in July, details of the intensive investigation of the case were revealed by Sgt Kelleher, who stated: “There have been 851 separate lines of enquiry, 412 statements have been taken, and there are over 250 exhibits pertaining to the investigation for the file have been gathered. In terms of CCTV alone, thousands of hours of CCTV were harvested and viewed by garda members assigned to the investigation.”

Gardaí started a murder investigation following the discovery of human remains found on Monday, January 29, at Rostellan in East Cork.

The late Mr Quilligan had been a missing person since September 2023, and a search had been ongoing.