Ireland Case No. 7704Murder · Co. Cork
Noel Long convicted of 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan in Cork
Nora Sheehan, a 54-year-old married mother of three, was allegedly murdered between 6 and 12 June 1981 at an unknown place within the State. Forestry workers found her body on 12 June 1981 at the Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork, 26km from where she was last seen alive. Noel Long, a 74-year-old man, was a suspect at the time but was not tried, and after a 2008 review and DNA evidence from 2021 he was charged a second time at Skibbereen District Court; he pleaded not guilty. On 4 August 2023 a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of murder by unanimous verdict, and Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence, backdated four weeks.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Aug
3 reports - Convicted4 Aug
5 reports - Sentenced4 Aug
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Nora Sheehan, a 54-year-old married mother of three, was allegedly murdered.
- Noel Long, a 74-year-old man, was convicted of murdering Nora Sheehan 42 years after the killing.
- Where
- Her body was found by forestry workers at the Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork, 26km from where she was last seen alive.
- When
- The alleged murder took place between 6 and 12 June 1981, and her body was found on 12 June 1981, six days after she went missing.
- Cause
- The pathologist's report described extensive bruising to her face, nose, mouth, head and body, and the prosecution said she was sexually assaulted and killed.
- A former State Pathologist and the defence pathologist said the cause of death was unascertained, with asphyxia among the possibilities.
- Investigation
- Long was a suspect in several sexual assault cases around the time of the killing, and gardaí stopped his car in June 1981.
- Long was arrested on 16 June 1981 and detained for two days over an armed robbery at a Cork city post office, and came voluntarily to Union Quay Garda station on 6 July 1981.
- A cold case review reopened the case in 2008, and DNA and fibre evidence linked Long to the victim, though the trial judge ruled a blood sample inadmissible because he had been unlawfully detained.
- A partial DNA profile from semen on the victim matched a beanie hat and clothing taken from Long in 2021, and fibres and paint from the victim matched his car.
- Charges
- Long was charged with murder in 1981, but the DPP withdrew the charge after the pathologist died, and he was charged again at Skibbereen District Court.
- In court
- Long pleaded not guilty, and his trial began on 13 July 2023 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and four women.
- The jury found Long guilty of murder by unanimous verdict on 4 August 2023 after about five hours and 32 minutes of deliberation.
- Sentence
- Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence for murder, backdated by four weeks.
- Other details
- Long has 31 previous convictions, including a 1972 conviction for sexual offending, and more than 280 exhibits were lost in the case.
104 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNora Sheehan, aged 54, was allegedly murdered. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoel Long was found guilty of murdering Nora Sheehan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatForestry workers reported finding the body of a woman. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA jury found Noel Long guilty of murdering Nora Sheehan. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoel Long was convicted of the murder of Nora Sheehan, a mother of three. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNora Sheehan was 54 years old when she died. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoel Long was convicted of murdering Nora Sheehan. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoel Long was convicted of murdering Nora Sheehan 42 years after the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSheehan's body was found by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSheehan's body was found at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork six days after she went missing. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged murder took place at an unknown place within the State. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHer body was found by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMrs Sheehan's body was found at Shippool Woods in Cork six days after she went missing. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe body was found in Shippool Woods, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereNora Sheehan's body was found at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMs Sheehan's body was found by forestry workers in Shippool Woods, Cork, in June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSheehan's body was found at the Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSheehan's body was found 26km from where she was last seen alive. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have happened between 6 and 12 June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have taken place between 6 and 12 June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMrs Sheehan died in June 1981. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe body was found on 12 June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whenNora Sheehan died in June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMs Sheehan's body was found on June 12th, 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder took place between 6 and 12 June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- whenSheehan's body was found six days after she went missing. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe conviction was secured on a Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenLong was accused of murdering Sheehan between 6 and 12 June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe pathologist's report described extensive bruising to Sheehan's face, nose, mouth, head and elsewhere on her body. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution says Sheehan was badly assaulted, including sexually assaulted, and was ultimately killed. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution said the case was built on forensic evidence and DNA profiling. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA former State Pathologist said the cause of death was unascertained and gave possibilities, including asphyxia. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA former State Pathologist told the court the victim's cause of death was unascertained. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe victim's cause of death was described as unascertained. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe pathologist's opinion was that Ms Sheehan died of asphyxia in the course of a sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe defence pathologist said the victim's cause of death was unascertained. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA partial DNA profile from preserved semen matched a beanie hat taken from Long. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA partial DNA profile from semen on the victim's body matched DNA on a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA partial DNA profile from semen found in the body matched DNA on clothing taken from Noel Long in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA partial DNA profile from semen found in the victim's body matched DNA on clothing taken from Long in 2021. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationFibres from the victim's coat matched carpet fibres from the interior of Long's car. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí stopped Long's car in June 1981 and it was taken to Bridewell Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA semen sample from the victim was preserved on a microscope slide. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA serious crime review team reopened the murder case in 2008. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe partial male DNA profile was matched to DNA from a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFibres recovered from the victim matched fibres from the carpeting of Long's car. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLong was a suspect in a number of sexual assault cases around the time of Ms Sheehan's death. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLong was arrested on June 16th, 1981, and detained for two days under section 30 over an armed robbery at a Cork city post office. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA retired detective inspector said he had in fact arrested Long for Ms Sheehan's murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLong was invited to Union Quay Garda station and came voluntarily to help with inquiries on July 6th, 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda Serious Crime Review Team tried to progress a rape allegation against Long in 1982, but the victim would not give a statement. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLong's home was searched while he was detained, and a brown jumper was seized. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationForensic evidence found matching brown acrylic fibres on Ms Sheehan's clothes. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA DNA profile from Long's blood sample, developed in 2008, matched semen recovered from Ms Sheehan's body. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí executed a search warrant on Long's house on November 30th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe conviction followed a Garda cold case review and advances in DNA and forensic evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA partial DNA profile from semen on the victim matched DNA on a hat taken from Long in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFibres recovered from the victim matched carpeting taken from Long's car. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPaint fragments from the victim's clothing matched paint taken from Long's vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNoel Long has pleaded not guilty to murdering Nora Sheehan. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe jury can return a verdict of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLong had pleaded not guilty to murdering Nora Sheehan between June 6th and June 12th, 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLong was charged with Ms Sheehan's murder in 1981, and the DPP later withdrew the charge after the pathologist died. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLong was charged with Ms Sheehan's murder a second time at Skibbereen District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and four women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues the next day, when the judge will begin his charge to the jury. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge concluded his charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court, and the jury will resume deliberations on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence said the prosecution had failed to prove the intent required for murder and that the most the jury could consider was manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of seven men and four women began considering its verdict on Wednesday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said the case may be the oldest murder prosecution in the State's history. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury can return a verdict of guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury found Long guilty of murder by unanimous verdict. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial began on July 13. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLong had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defence argued the most the jury could consider was manslaughter, and the jury rejected this. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was tried at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLong was found guilty of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial began on July 13th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial judge ruled the blood sample could not be used in evidence because Long had been unlawfully detained. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLong pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Sheehan between June 6th and June 12th, 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA pretrial hearing was held in which O'Carroll described the allegations made about his conduct as nonsense. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLong pleaded not guilty to murdering Sheehan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial began on 13 July. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury found Long guilty of murder by unanimous verdict after five hours and 32 minutes of deliberation. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceLong was expected to receive a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence for murder on Long, backdated by four weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecutor said the inescapable conclusion is that Sheehan was murdered and her murderer was Long. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence argued that the key issue is whether what happened was a murder at all. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence said the failure to preserve exhibits was truly shocking. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMore than 280 exhibits were lost in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence argued the most a jury could consider is a manslaughter verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong has a 1972 conviction for sexual offending and multiple previous assault convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was a 54-year-old mother of three. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's dress had been pulled over her head, leaving a bruise on her neck. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong has 31 previous convictions spanning 1966 to 2016. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe 42-year gap between the killing and the conviction is the longest in the history of the State in a murder case and for any Garda cold case review. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGerry O'Carroll, a retired detective inspector, dismissed allegations by Long that he was beaten during Garda questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Carroll said Long was questioned voluntarily in 1981 and was not under arrest. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSheehan was a 54-year-old married mother of three. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong was a suspect from the time of the murder but was not put on trial then. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong claimed he was beaten and mistreated by gardaí during 1981 questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRetired detective Gerry O'Carroll described Long's claims about his 1981 questioning as nonsense. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's family said Long showed no remorse for the murder and sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Aug2023Noel Long to spend rest of life in jail after historic conviction for Nora Sheehan’s 1981 murder
Reports the jury verdict finding Noel Long guilty of murdering Nora Sheehan, the evidence heard at trial, the defence and the victim's family's statements, and background on the 1981 investigation. No existing case matches this incident.
victim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanconvicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long - 5 Aug2023Retired detective Gerry O’Carroll rejects claims of murderer Noel Long
Reports the conviction of Noel Long for the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan, and retired detective Gerry O'Carroll's rejection of Long's allegations of mistreatment during Garda questioning.
victim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanconvicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long - 4 Aug2023Noel Long murder trial: What the jury didn’t hear
Reports evidence and legal rulings heard in the jury's absence at the Noel Long murder trial, including the DNA and forensic evidence, the 1981 murder charge that was withdrawn, and the 2022 charge.
victim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanconvicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long - 4 Aug2023Man found guilty of murdering Cork woman 42 years ago
Reports the jury verdict, the life sentence and the evidence in a 1981 cold case murder trial, after DNA was matched to clothing taken from the accused in 2021.
victim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanconvicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long - 4 Aug2023Noel Long found guilty: Full story of how a conviction over Nora Sheehan’s 1981 death was finally secured
Reports the guilty verdict, the victim's background, the discovery of the body, the 1981 forensic evidence linking the car to the victim, the 2008 review, and the DNA match from a beanie hat seized in 2021.
victim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanconvicted, Noel Long, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long - 4 Aug2023Noel Long found guilty of murdering Nora Sheehan in Ireland's oldest murder case
Reports the jury verdict of guilty of murder after the trial, and that a mandatory life sentence was expected. Adds the trial timeline, the DNA and forensic evidence, and the defence argument for manslaughter.
convicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Longvictim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehan - 3 Aug2023Cold case murder trial: Jury will return on Friday to consider deliberations
Reports that the jury had spent 4 hours 44 minutes deliberating, would return on Friday, and had asked for a diagram of the victim's injuries that was not available as an exhibit. Summarises the prosecution and defence closing arguments and the judge's charge. No verdict yet.
accused, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Longvictim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehan - 2 Aug2023Jury urged to leave ‘any revulsion or prejudice’ aside in ‘cold case’ murder trial of Noel Long
Report on the Central Criminal Court trial: the judge's charge to the jury, the three available verdicts, the DNA and forensic evidence, and the defence's manslaughter argument. Does not describe the initial reporting of the case.
accused, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Longvictim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehan - 1 Aug2023All evidence points in direction of accused in cold case murder trial, prosecution tells jury
Closing speeches in the cold case murder trial of Noel Long for the 1981 killing of Nora Sheehan. No existing case in the list matches this trial.
victim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehanaccused, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Long