A MAN has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin charged with the murder of Swiss student Manuela Riedo.
Gerard Barry (27), a native of Mervue in Galway city, with an address at 187 Rosan Glas, Rahoon, Galway, is charged with the murder of Ms Riedo (17) at Lough Atalia, Galway, on October 8th last.
Mr Barry, who has been held in custody since last October, appeared before Galway District Court yesterday.
Sgt Brendan Carroll gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on the accused moments earlier in the courtroom.
Insp Pat McHugh said the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to the accused being sent forward for trial to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
Judge Mary Fahy returned Mr Barry for trial in custody to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court. She told him that if his defence was to rely on alibi, he was to let his solicitor and the State know within the next two weeks.
Judge Fahy granted Mr Barry free legal aid and, on the application of defence solicitor, Olivia Traynor, she granted legal aid for one junior and one senior counsel to represent the accused at his trial in the Central Criminal Court.
Judge Fahy noted that as the accused faced a murder charge, bail was not a matter for the District Court.
Ms Riedo's body was found on waste ground on the banks of Lough Atalia on the approach to Galway city, and adjacent to Ceannt Railway Station, by a man walking his dog at 9.30am on October 9th last.
Gardaí believe the victim, who had been in Ireland for just two days and was attending an English language school, was taking a short-cut into the city when she was murdered sometime after 7.15pm on October 8th.