THE MAN attempting to clear his name over of the killing of Una Lynskey almost 40 years ago claims he “made up stories” about events on the evening the young woman disappeared “out of fear” and “under duress”.
The Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday heard that Martin Conmey told gardaí “what they wanted to hear” to “get them off” his back.
Mr Conmey, who was 20 at the time, also claims he was punched, thrown on the floor and then “pulled up by the hair” while being questioned at Trim Garda station after the disappearance of Ms Lynskey (19),
Lawyers for Mr Conmey (59), Porterstown Lane, Ratoath, Co Meath, argue that “newly discovered facts” will prove he was not responsible for Ms Lynskey’s death in 1971. Her body was discovered on December 10th in a ditch in a remote part of the Dublin mountains two months after she vanished while returning to her home at Porterstown Lane.
In 1972, Mr Conmey and Dick Donnelly were convicted of her manslaughter. A year later, both men appealed and Mr Donnelly’s conviction was overturned, but Mr Conmey served three years in prison for the offence.
Under cross-examination yesterday, Mr Conmey was asked by Brendan Grehan SC, for the State, about “an admission” he made to a Garda inspector on October 26th, 1971, during a period of interviewing at Trim Garda station.
Mr Conmey said he “was making up stories” because he was “so frightened and scared”. He said he “just agreed” with questions put to him after being told he would “never get home to see his parents”.
The Court of Criminal Appeal with Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, presiding, sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Mr Justice Eamon de Valera, heard how the “admission” included a reference to “meeting” Ms Lynskey “on the road” on the evening she disappeared.
Ms Lynskey was offered a lift and “got into the car” belonging to Mr Donnelly and Mr Conmey subsequently got out.
Mr Conmey told the court yesterday he “never met that girl that night” but accepted he told the inspector his “admission was true” and that he asked him “not to write it down”. He was afraid that a garda who assaulted him would be brought back into the interview room.
Earlier, Mr Conmey’s sister said her brother returned from Garda questioning on October 27th, 1971, with a “swollen face” and “bald patches on his head”. Mary Gaughan broke down as she told the court she “vividly remembered” the “terrifying experience” of her brother coming home. Ms Gaughan, who was 16 at the time, told Pauline Walley SC, for the State, that she observed her brother “traumatised”.
A letter, written by her on November 1st, 1971, to a friend, was also read to the court yesterday. It alleges Garda abuse against Martin Conmey.