Ireland Cold case murder trial of Noel Long adjourned after juror falls ill
Noel Long, a Cork man, has been charged with murdering Nora Sheehan, a mother of three, between June 6 and June 12, 1981. Her body was found in Shippool Woods, Cork, six days after she went missing, and he has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors rely on DNA evidence from semen recovered from her body, which was sent to the UK in 2008 for profiling. The jury was reduced from 12 to 11 the previous Tuesday, and on Friday 21 July 2023 a juror fell ill during forensic scientist Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker's evidence, so Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the trial until Monday.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court21 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Nora Sheehan was a mother of three.
- Charges
- Noel Long has been charged with murdering Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981.
- Noel Long has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
- Where
- Nora Sheehan's body was found in Shippool Woods, Cork.
- When
- Nora Sheehan's body was found six days after she went missing.
- Investigation
- Material recovered from Nora Sheehan's body had to be sent to the UK in 2008 to generate a DNA profile.
- UK forensic scientist Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker developed a DNA profile from semen recovered from Nora Sheehan's body.
- The prosecution says the probability that the semen came from someone other than Noel Long, if that person is unrelated to him, is one in 20,000.
- Other details
- The jury heard that the pathologist found bruising in the anterior wall of Nora Sheehan's vagina and the presence of spermatozoa.
- In court
- The jury was reduced from 12 to 11 after a juror was discharged the previous Tuesday.
- On Friday, 21 July 2023, a juror fell ill while Dr Whitaker was giving direct evidence, and the trial was adjourned.
- Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case until Monday to give the ill juror time to recover.
- The trial is due to continue on Monday, when Dr Whitaker will continue giving direct evidence.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNoel Long has pleaded not guilty to murdering Nora Sheehan between June 6th and June 12th, 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whereNora Sheehan's body was found in Shippool Woods, Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whenNora Sheehan's body was found six days after she went missing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationMaterial recovered from Nora Sheehan had to be sent to the UK in 2008 to generate a DNA profile. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDr Whitaker developed a DNA profile from semen recovered from Nora Sheehan's body. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe prosecution says the probability that the semen came from someone other than Noel Long is one in 20,000, if that person is unrelated to him. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was adjourned after a juror became unwell. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge adjourned the case until Monday to give the ill juror time to recover. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury was reduced from 12 to 11 after a juror was discharged the previous Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial will continue on Monday, when Dr Whitaker will continue giving direct evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe jury heard that the pathologist found bruising in the anterior wall of Nora Sheehan's vagina and the presence of spermatozoa. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Jul2023Cold case murder trial adjourned due to juror’s illness
Reports that the trial was adjourned after a juror fell ill, that the jury was reduced to 11 after an earlier juror was discharged, and gives details of the DNA evidence heard so far.
accused, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Longvictim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehan