TWO WOMEN have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a new-age traveller whose body was found dumped in a slurry tank in west Cork almost three years ago.
Amanda McNab (25) and Una Geaney (44), both with addresses at Mullinagleamig, Dingle, Co Kerry, were charged yesterday by gardaí with the murder of Gary Bull (37) at Shanlaragh, Dunmanway, Co Cork, on or about September 23rd, 2007.
At Clonakilty District Court yesterday, Det Sgt Gerry Crowley gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Scottish-born Ms McNab and told the court that she replied “I have nothing to say” when the charge was put to her after caution.
Sgt Michael Lyons gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Ms Geaney, a native of Fermoy, in east Cork, and told the court that she made no reply to the charge when it was put to her after caution.
Insp Colin Collins applied for a remand in custody for both women to appear again at Bandon District Court on Friday. Judge James McNulty granted the application and remanded both accused in custody.
Ms McNab’s solicitor Richard Barrett applied for free legal aid on behalf of his client who is not working. He also asked that the judge instruct the prison authorities to ensure that she received all appropriate medical attention as she had a medical condition.
Ms Geaney’s solicitor Diarmuid O’Shea said his client was on disability benefit and similarly applied for free legal aid. He also asked the judge to ensure that his client too received appropriate medical attention while in custody as she too had a medical condition.
Insp Collins said both women had been seen by a doctor and provided with prescription medicines for their conditions after they were arrested. Judge McNulty ordered they receive appropriate medical attention while in custody while he also granted free legal aid.
The arrest and charging of Ms McNab and Ms Geaney followed a lengthy investigation by gardaí in west Cork into the murder of Mr Bull. His body was found in a slurry pit at the farm at Shanlaragh, north of Dunmanway, on October 10th, 2007.
Gardaí had to drain the slurry pit to remove Mr Bull’s body. A postmortem by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster revealed that he had died from severe head injuries consistent with being struck with some blunt instrument.
A native of Hertfordshire, Mr Bull had been living in a mobile home in Kilmichael, west Cork, between Dunmanway and Macroom, having come to live among the 200 or so new-age traveller community in the nearby Coole Mountain in about 2004.
Two men and a woman have already appeared before the courts in relation to withholding information from gardaí investigating Mr Bull’s murder and all three have received suspended sentences at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.