Report after 1999 knife threat on woman found Hayes was 'unlikely to reoffend'

BACKGROUND:Oliver Hayes had a history of robbing the homes of or attacking women living alone

CONVICTED MURDERER Oliver Hayes was thought unlikely to reoffend after he attacked and threatened a woman with a knife 11 years ago, as he showed real remorse for his actions, a probation and welfare report at the time concluded, The Irish Timeshas learned.

Hayes had pleaded guilty to assault and assault with intent to rob Ann Hurley, then in her 50s, at her home at Baurleigh, Kilbrittain, in April 1999 when he was arraigned on the charge at Cork Circuit Criminal Court over a year later.

Hayes had called to Ms Hurley’s home down a lonely boreen at Baurleigh just a mile from where he abducted Ann Corcoran at Maulnaskimlehane on January 19th, 2009. He pretended to be looking for water for his car before putting a paint knife to Ms Hurley’s throat.

Ms Hurley screamed and a neighbour, Ms Twomey, who was in her garden heard the cry and came running. When Hayes heard the gate to Ms Hurley’s property squeak open, he released her and fled empty-handed.

Detectives traced Hayes through a description from Ms Hurley who described him as “slight and lively”. She noticed that he had paint stains on his shoes as well and she gave a description of his van. When detectives arrested him, he made a full admission.

The motive proffered by Hayes for the attack on Ms Hurley was ominously premonitory of what happened 10 years later when he abducted, robbed and murdered Ms Corcoran and then went off on a skiing holiday with his girlfriend and her son.

He said his motivation for attacking Ms Hurley was to get money for a foreign holiday which his girlfriend, Josephine Collins, and her son were due to go on a few days later. He felt that the money he had saved would not be sufficient for pocket money on the holiday.

The Irish Timesunderstands that the probation and welfare officer who met Hayes after that attack felt that Hayes was "an insecure and unassuming man" and, while he admitted planning the attack on Ms Hurley whom he knew to be vulnerable, he was facing up to his crime.

According to the probation and welfare officer, Hayes seemed “genuinely remorseful” and “appeared to understand the impact” that his offence had on Ms Hurley. He had “accepted responsibility” leading the officer to believe “that he was unlikely to reoffend”.

Pleading guilty to assault and to assault with intent to rob, Hayes was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by Judge Patrick Moran at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in February 2001 but the sentence was suspended after he paid £1,000 compensation and was bound to the peace.

Details of that sentence were given at yesterday’s hearing by Det Insp Joe Moore who also testified that Hayes had a previous conviction for burglary from May 1982, when he broke into the home of an woman in her 80s living alone on December 11th, 1981.

Det Insp Moore said Hayes had entered the woman’s house at Mayfield in Bandon by night, removed the fuses so that she could not see him and made off with £3,000. While he did not attack the woman, she fell out of bed and had to move house and died four months later.

Following yesterday’s jailing of Hayes, Ms Corcoran’s niece, Maureen O’Leary, said the family felt that they had got justice for her aunt. She thanked all those who had helped search for her in terrible weather conditions and across rough terrain.

Supt Eddie Mac Eoin, who headed up the investigation, also paid tribute to those who helped with the search and he moved to assure anyone who might still be feeling fearful following the crime that they could contact their local Garda station.