A 21-year-old man was last night remanded in custody after he was charged with the murder of 19-year-old Cobh girl Sheola Keaney in the town last week.
Thomas Kennedy of Russell Heights, Cobh, appeared before a special sitting of Midleton District Court last night where he was charged with the murder of the teenager at Newtown, Cobh, on July 14th last, contrary to common law.
Det Sgt Brian Goulding gave evidence of arresting and charging Mr Kennedy with the offence while he also gave evidence of Mr Kennedy's reply to the charge after caution. The defendant had allegedly said: "Plead guilty, like, I suppose . . ."
Insp Martin Dorney asked to have Mr Kennedy remanded in custody to appear again at Mallow District Court on Tuesday and Mr Kennedy's solicitor Nicholas O'Keeffe said he was making no application at this stage but may do so in Mallow.
Judge Michael Pattwell granted the garda application and remanded Mr Kennedy in custody to Cork prison to appear again at Mallow District Court on Tuesday at 10.30am.
Mr Kennedy, who was dressed in a black suit and grey shirt, did not speak during the two-minute hearing but sat with his head bowed behind a line of plain-clothes and uniformed gardaí.
Emotions were running high prior to Mr Kennedy being brought to court with more than 50 members of the public, including Sheola's father, Peter Keaney, and other relatives thronging the courtroom.
More than 30 gardaí from Midleton and Cobh lined the courtroom and before the case Supt Flor Horan appealed to people not to shout abuse when the accused was brought into the courtroom.
Peter Keaney then stood up and, turning to the crowd that had travelled from Cobh for the hearing, said: "For Sheola's sake, let's do this with dignity."
However, when Mr Kennedy was brought into the courtroom moments later, flanked by some six detectives, a young girl leaped up from her seat while shouting, only to be restrained by relatives.
After the woman was carried from the courtroom by gardaí, Supt Horan again pleaded with people to respect Peter Keaney's request and remain dignified.
After the hearing Mr Kennedy was escorted from court under tight security as members of the Keaney family embraced each other in emotional scenes outside the court building.