Sandra Collins accidentally fell into sea, accused told witness

A witness told the Central Criminal Court today that the man accused of murdering Sandra Collins 14 years ago told him she accidentally fell into the sea while he was with her at Killala Pier.

Michael Grenaghan, a civil engineer, told Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury that Martin Early, Banagher, Carrowmore Lacken, Ballina, stayed with him overnight on March 23rd, 2011, after ringing him and telling him he was "in trouble".

Construction worker Mr Early (49) denies murdering Sandra Collins of Courthouse Street, Killala, at a place unknown on or about December 4th, 2000.

On the 11th day of the trial at Castlebar Courthouse today, Mr Grenaghan gave evidence that when Martin Early rang him on March 23rd, 2011 he “sounded very panicky and sounded like he had a few beers”.

The witness continued: “He said I was in trouble and could I help him. It sounded like he was having a few problems with himself and his wife.”

Mr Grenaghan said he collected Mr Early in Ballycastle and brought him to his (Grenaghan’s) uncle’s house where he was “very stressed” and vomited.

The witness said he told Mr Early to get his head down for the night and the following morning he went to his bedroom to see if he was alright.

While they were in the bedroom Mr Early told him he was “in big trouble”, to do with the lady who had gone missing.

Mr Grenaghan said: “I said he needed to go home and sort himself out and go and see the guards.”

The witness said Mr Early then told him he had been with Sandra Collins on the night she disappeared, and they had gone to the pier in Killala together.

Mr Grenaghan continued: “He (Mr Early) said there was an argument and that she fell into the water. She got out of the car apparently very erratically and stepped back away from the car and fell in”.

The witness said that when asked why he had not jumped in to get Sandra Collins out of the water Mr Early told him that he could not swim. He also said it was very dark at the time.

Mr Grenaghan said he told the accused he should have rang the guards. He also told him to sort things out with his wife and go to the police station and also to his solicitor.

Cross examined by Micheál O’Higgins, the witness said that Martin Early struck him as a good father, good with his kids.

“I never saw him being violent with anyone,” the witness went on.

He added: “I believe that Martin Early was telling the truth that she fell in.”

The trial is continuing.