A Co Galway man has lost his appeal against his conviction for the murder and rape of a schoolgirl whose body was found on a remote Connemara beach over eight years ago.
John 'Demesne' McDonagh of The Demesne, Carraroe, Co Galway, was convicted in 2001 of the rape and murder of Siobhan Hynes (17) of Sconse, Lettermore, Connemara., at Tishmean beach, Carraroe, on December 6th, 1998.
At his trial, the prosecution alleged that McDonagh had earlier raped Ms Hynes with an object, possibly in a field, and had then brought her live body, although it was unclear whether she was conscious or unconscious, to the beach and left her there to drown when the tide came in. He appealed against his conviction on 13 grounds, all of which were dismissed after a two day hearing by the three judge Court of Criminal Appeal.