Jury sworn in for trial of two men charged with murdering Kieran Quilligan in Cork

A jury of 10 men and two women was sworn in today for the trial of two men charged with murdering 47-year-Kieran Quilligan at an unknown location in Cork.

Niall Long (33), formerly of St Michael’s Close, Mahon, Cork, and Luke Taylor (27), formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, were arraigned at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today on the single charge of murder. They both replied: “Not guilty” to the charge against them.

The murder count against each man 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.

Throughout the late morning and early afternoon today members of the jury panel were called to courtroom 6 at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, Cork, where the process of selecting a jury occurred.

Each person from the jury panel was given an opportunity to tell Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford if they could not commit to hearing the case for the estimated duration of three to four weeks. Numerous people did so and were excused.

For those others who were willing to be empanelled on the jury, it was possible for defence and prosecution lawyers to object to them being sworn on to the jury. 

The prosecution and each defendant could object to seven people without showing cause and to any number with cause shown.

Ms Justice Lankford told the 10 men and two women that their first job was to select a jury foreperson from among them to liaise between the jury and the court and to perform certain technical functions.

The judge then told the jurors that there would be nothing for them to hear in relation to the case today or tomorrow when lawyers will examine extensive volumes of CCTV, and agree on a synopsis of what footage is to be shown in the course of the trial.

Sending the jury away until 10.30am on Wednesday, October 8, the judge told them that the integrity of the process meant that they should not discuss the case with others, should not conduct searches on social media and should not do any independent research such as visiting locations referred to in the trial.

It is anticipated that the opening prosecution speech outlining the anticipated evidence in the trial will be given on Wednesday morning.