A 27-year-old Galway man was charged with the murder of Swiss student Manuela Riedo at a special sitting of Galway District Court yesterday morning - shortly before the funeral of the young student took place in Switzerland. Ann Healyreports.
Gerard Barry, a native of Mervue in Galway city, with an address at Rosán Glas, Rahoon, is charged with the murder of Ms Riedo (17) at Lough Atalia, Galway, on October 8th.
A large crowd gathered outside the court as the accused was taken to the special sitting at 10am yesterday flanked by several gardaí.
Mr Barry, who was handcuffed, lunged at a photographer as he was being led into court and he remained aggressive and agitated in the courtroom before the brief hearing took place.
The accused, wearing a blue fleece top, black pants and black and white runners, listened with his head bowed as Det Sgt Brendan Carroll gave evidence of arresting him at Galway Garda station on Thursday at 11.40pm, and of later charging him with the murder of Ms Riedo.
Det Sgt Carroll said Mr Barry shook his head and said nothing when asked if he wished to reply to the charge.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said she had no application to make to the court other than an application for free legal aid in the matter.
Insp Seán Glynn, prosecuting, applied to Judge Mary Fahy to have the accused remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court on October 26th.
Remanding the accused in custody to appear on that date, Judge Fahy said that as the charge before the court was one of murder, bail was not an issue for her court. Mr Barry was led to a waiting Garda car outside and was driven away under heavy Garda escort.
A crowd of about 100 had gathered outside as the accused was led out a side entrance, and there was a rush to the unmarked car which was surrounded by about 30 gardaí. The crowd jeered and there were several attempts to thump the vehicle as it drove away.
This was followed by sustained applause for the gardaí.
The body of Ms Riedo was found on waste ground on the banks of Lough Atalia on the approach to Galway city and adjacent to Ceannt Railway Station by a man walking his dog at 9.30am on October 9th.
Gardaí believe the victim, who was attending an English language school, was taking a short-cut into the city when she was strangled sometime after 7.15pm on October 8th.
More than 1,000 people attended a memorial service for Ms Riedo in Galway city on Thursday night.