Woman interviewed by gardaí in Macroom murder case described as being terrifying 'like a scene from The Exorcist'

The behaviour of a woman interviewed by gardaí during the Macroom murder investigation in February 2024 was described by the lawyer for the man accused of murdering Michael Foley as going from “zero to terrifying” like a scene from The Exorcist.

Substantial parts of the prosecution and defence speeches to the jury today in the Macroom murder trial referred to Linda O’Flynn, who is originally from the Hollyhill area of Cork city, even though the only person on trial is Daniel Hourigan.

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said: “This is not a case of joint enterprise. This has none of the characteristics of a plan to kill Michael Foley. The plan was to get a roof over their head for the night. And he (Mr Foley) provided a roof for waifs and strays. Daniel Hourigan says he stayed with Michael Foley for a month-and-a-half and nothing happened and he says how telling it was that the one time Linda O’Flynn went down, Michael Foley is never again seen alive.

“From an evidence point of view you don’t know what happened or is going to happen to Linda O’Flynn … I say her previous convictions are particularly germane … I say she pleaded guilty to her part in a similar attack (at the home of an older man in Cork city in January 2022) where she picks up a hatchet and hits him with it twice. 

"Linda O’Flynn is a woman who is prepared to wield a potentially lethal weapon against an older man. She has stuck a hatchet into someone previously.” 

Referring to a segment of video of Linda O’Flynn being interviewed by gardaí in the investigation of the killing of Michael Foley, Mr Boland said: “She goes from zero to terrifying in no time at all. Out of nowhere she starts screaming, first at her own solicitor, and at the guards, it is like something out of The Exorcist. That is her in a controlled situation – can you imagine her where she is drinking all night with Michael Foley?

“Who knows what argument might have arisen between herself and Michael Foley when Daniel Hourigan is asleep further down the house? Imagine that woman with access to knives in the kitchen. I suggest to you that is exactly what happened here… Basically, there is nothing to suggest the wounds were from being (inflicted) by a man rather than a woman.” 

The prosecution case is that Michael Foley was murdered on February 1 2024 at his home at Annville, Barrett’s Place, Macroom. 33-year-old Daniel Hourigan, who is originally from Farranree in Cork city, pleaded not guilty to his murder.

Jane Hyland, prosecution senior counsel, explained what was meant by the response to the murder charge made by the accused when he said: “Not guilty of murder but guilty of assisting an offender under Section 7 Subsection 2 of the Criminal Law Act 1997.” 

She said that in non-legal language, “what that means is that he is saying to you that he helped another person when they committed an offence to prevent them being caught,” but that he is not guilty of murder.

Mr Boland said the person Daniel Hourigan was trying to prevent being caught was Linda O’Flynn.

Ms Hyland asked the jury to put aside any prejudices they might have that someone sitting in the dock of the Central Criminal Court must be guilty and also to put aside any sympathies they might have for a person in the dock accused of a crime.

“It appears that this is something that happened in a flash. Michael Foley is bleeding and in shock from multiple stab wounds. One penetrated 11cm into his right chest, another went 13 inches into his abdomen into his small bowel. No witness says I saw Daniel Hourigan stab Michael Foley. I am relying on circumstantial evidence that the circumstances lead to only one conclusion that Daniel Hourigan killed Michael Foley.

“You have heard of Linda O’Flynn and I am asking you not to speculate on the role of Linda O’Flynn. I have to prove the case on the evidence against Daniel Hourigan. I ask you to put aside any thoughts you are having on Linda O’Flynn, I am asking you to focus on Daniel Hourigan."

Ms Hyland said the deceased was a man who offered hospitality to people in difficulties with homeless and related problems.

She said that when Daniel Hourigan left Michael Foley’s home – “he is carrying a black plastic bag containing the murder weapon with Michael Foley’s blood on it. We can see Mr Hourigan (on CCTV). He put that bag on the bus. When the bus stopped on Western Road, Mr Hourigan went to the back of the bus, he took other things out and left the black bag on the bus.” 

Ms Hyland also referred to Daniel Hourigan’s palmprint in the blood of the deceased which was found on the architrave of a door at Mr Foley’s house. The prosecution senior counsel said these were two big elements in the prosecution case – the bloody weapon in the bag on the bus and the palmprint on the door.

“In the last interview he is asked why his palmprint in the blood of Michael Foley is on the architrave of the doorway and he has no answer. (Asked by the gardaí) tell us your defence, he has no answer. To both questions he says, no comment,” 

Ms Hyland said.

She said that Daniel Hourigan later said in relation to differing accounts that he had given to gardaí through the investigation, that he was protecting Linda O’Flynn because she told him she was pregnant with his child, although she was not in fact. 

The prosecution senior counsel suggested to the jury that he was not trying to protect Ms O’Flynn but he was trying to protect himself.

The trial continues.