The Central Criminal Court has heard that an illegal poitin run could explain the presence of two suspicious vehicles at a beach on a coastline where the body of a young woman was found in December 1998.
In the trial of a Co Galway man for the murder and rape of the student, Mr Barry White SC, defending, was cross-examining a retired Garda superintendent, Mr Jim Sugrue, about witness statements disclosed to the defence but not included in the book of evidence.
The 26-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 17-year-old and to two counts of rape early on December 6th, 1998.
The jury heard further evidence of a Garda search of the accused man's home on December 15th, 1998, during which a white V-necked ribbed jumper was found. The prosecution alleges the accused was wearing the jumper earlier on the night of the killing.
Garda witnesses have said the accused produced a different white sweatshirt when, in the days following the killing, he was asked to hand in to gardai what he had been wearing. Mr Sugrue said one witness who lived near a remote beach some half to three-quarters of a mile along the shoreline told gardai that at about 4 a.m. on December 6th, 1998, he heard a car heading towards the shore.
Later, at 7.41 a.m., he heard vehicles coming from the beach. He saw a jeep and what looked like a "longish car". He got out of bed and went to the beach with a flashlight, but could see no footprints or tracks on the sand. He noticed fresh tyre tracks on a small laneway.
Mr Sugrue said the matter was thoroughly investigated, but the vehicles had not been traced. He confirmed that another witness saw two similar vehicles driving slowly in the local village around 6.45 a.m.
But he added that "in the overall context of the investigation" the possibility of the vehicles being involved was "most unlikely".
He said the time the vehicles were seen, the different location of the discovery of the victim's jewellery and clothing, the distance from the witness's beach to where the body was found, and the advice of people familiar with tides in the area made a connection "most unlikely".
Cross-examined further, Mr Sugrue said: "I would have to say that in that part of [the west], there are late-night poitin activities going on, as well as other activities."
"You're not making a suggestion that this was some sort of pre-Christmas poitin run?" Mr White asked.
"All I can say is that at that time of year that kind of activity commences and goes on right up to the new year," the witness replied.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Smith and a jury.