Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19789Murder · Co. Cork

Gardaí examine whether convicted murderer Noel Long is linked to sex attacks

Noel Long, 74, was found guilty by a jury in August 2023 of murdering Nora Sheehan, a Cork woman who went missing in June 1981. Her body was found at The Viewing Point at Shippool Woods in Cork six days later. Long was arrested and detained for two days in June 1981 over an armed robbery at a Cork city post office, and the murder case was reopened through a cold case review that retrieved DNA samples retained by the State. In September 2023 gardaí were understood to be investigating whether Long could be linked to a large number of sex attacks on women, and Long is appealing his conviction.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted19 Sep
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Noel Long, 74, was found guilty in August 2023 of murdering Nora Sheehan in 1981.
Other details
  • The victim is Nora Sheehan, a woman from Cork.
  • Long is appealing the conviction.
Where
Nora Sheehan's body was found at The Viewing Point at Shippool Woods in Cork.
When
Nora Sheehan went missing in June 1981 and her body was found six days later.
Investigation
  • In June 1981 Long was arrested and detained for two days over an armed robbery at a post office in Cork city.
  • The murder case was reopened through a cold case review that retrieved DNA samples retained by the State.
  • Gardaí are understood to be investigating whether Long could have carried out a large number of sex attacks on women.
Charges
Long was prosecuted for the murder following the cold case review.
In court
A jury of seven men and four women unanimously found Long guilty of the 1981 murder.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNoel Long, 74, was found guilty in August of murdering Nora Sheehan 42 years ago. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereNora Sheehan's body was found at The Viewing Point at Shippool Woods in Cork. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenNora Sheehan's body was found six days after she went missing in June 1981. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationLong was prosecuted following a cold case review that retrieved DNA samples retained by the State. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are understood to be investigating whether a large number of sex attacks on women could have been carried out by Long. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationLong was arrested and detained for two days in June 1981 over an armed robbery at a post office in Cork city. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtA jury of seven men and four women unanimously found Long guilty of the 1981 murder. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherLong is appealing the conviction. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Sep2023
    Convictedthejournal.ie, first report
    Gardaí believe convicted cold case killer Noel Long is suspect in 'large number' of sex attacks

    Reports that gardaí are investigating whether Long could be linked to a large number of unsolved sex attacks, that victims are reluctant to revisit them, and gives background on the Sheehan case, the cold case review, and Long's 1981 arrest and questioning.

    victim, Nora Sheehan, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanconvicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long