Ireland Noel Long lodges appeal against cold case murder conviction
Nora Sheehan, a 54-year-old woman from Kilreendowney Place, Ballyphehane, Cork, was murdered between June 6 and June 12, 1981, at a place unknown in the State. Noel Long, a 74-year-old man from Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork, was a suspect from the time but was not tried then, and Gardaí opened a cold case investigation in 2008 that relied heavily on DNA evidence, including a partial profile matched to a beanie hat obtained from him in 2021. A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Long of the murder after five hours and 32 minutes, and Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence on 4 August 2023. On Tuesday, after the sentencing, Long's lawyers lodged an appeal against his conviction.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Aug
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Nora Sheehan, a 54-year-old woman from Kilreendowney Place, Ballyphehane, Cork, was murdered.
- When
- The murder was committed between June 6 and June 12, 1981.
- Where
- The murder took place at a place unknown in the State.
- Noel Long, a 74-year-old man, is from Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork.
- Other details
- Long was in the same area as Ms Sheehan when she went missing.
- A partial DNA profile from semen on the victim's body matched DNA on a beanie hat obtained from Long in 2021.
- Fibres and paint fragments from the victim matched the carpeting and paint of Long's car.
- Long is recorded as a sex offender with 31 previous convictions.
- Investigation
- Long was a suspect from the time of the murder but was not tried then, including because of several issues such as the death of a pathologist working on the case.
- Gardaí opened a lengthy cold case investigation in 2008 that relied heavily on advances in DNA technology.
- Charges
- Long denied the murder of Ms Sheehan.
- In court
- A jury at the Central Criminal Court found Long guilty of murder unanimously after five hours and 32 minutes.
- Long's lawyers lodged an appeal against his conviction on Tuesday, after the sentencing.
- Sentence
- Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence on Long on 4 August 2023.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whereLong is from Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder took place at a place unknown in the State. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder was committed between 6 and 12 June 1981. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí opened a lengthy cold case investigation into the murder in 2008. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case relied heavily on advances in DNA technology. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Long of the murder of Nora Sheehan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury took five hours and 32 minutes to unanimously find Long guilty. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLong's lawyers lodged an appeal against his conviction on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceLong was sentenced to life imprisonment on 4 August 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA partial DNA profile from semen on the victim's body matched DNA on a beanie hat obtained from Long in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFibres recovered from the victim matched fibres taken from the carpeting of Long's car. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPaint fragments from the victim's clothing matched paint taken from Long's vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong was in the same area as Ms Sheehan when she went missing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong is a sex offender with 31 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong was a suspect from the time of the murder but was not tried at the time because of several issues, including the death of a pathologist working on the case. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Aug2023Murderer Noel Long lodges appeal against ‘cold case’ conviction
Reports that Long's lawyers lodged an appeal against his conviction on Tuesday, after the 4 August sentencing. Adds the appeal, the trial evidence and the cold case background.
convicted, Noel Long, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Longvictim, Nora Sheehan, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Nora Sheehan