A MAN has been remanded in custody accused of the murder of pregnant mother-of-four Jean Quigley, who was beaten to death at her Derry home more than two weeks ago.
Stephen Cahoon (36), Harvey Street, Derry, appeared at a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Saturday after he was taken there under Garda escort from Ballyshannon Garda station in Co Donegal.
Mr Cahoon sat quietly between two plainclothes officers at the side of the court as Det Sgt Desmond Sheridan, who arrested him in Donegal town last Tuesday, gave evidence. Mr Cahoon remained impassive throughout the 15-minute hearing.
Det Sgt Sheridan told the court that he placed his hand on Mr Cahoon's shoulder at 10.51pm on Friday night at Ballyshannon Garda station and informed him he was being arrested for the murder of Jean Theresa Quigley (30), Cornshell Fields, Derry, on July 26th.
Det Sgt Sheridan said he told Mr Cahoon the arrest was made under cross-Border legislation for the purposes of charging him with the murder. When cautioned on his rights as he was being charged at 11.54pm on Friday, Mr Cahoon replied that he had nothing to say.
Defence solicitor Paudge Dorrian said he would be challenging the legality of Mr Cahoon's detention at a later hearing.¨
Det Sgt Sheridan told the court that Mr Cahoon was arrested at 8.55pm last Tuesday. Soon afterwards he was taken to Sligo General Hospital when he complained of feeling unwell. Following his return to Ballyshannon Garda station, he was released from detention at 10.50pm on Friday night and rearrested a minute later.
Mr Dorrian said he would be seeking access to orders relating to the detention made by Chief Supt Terry McGinn, Supt Eugene McGovern and Supt Jimmy Coen.
Both Supt Coen and Mr Dorrian asked that the case be remanded to Donegal District Court but Judge Conal Gibbons questioned the reason for this. Supt Coen said those were his instructions, while Mr Dorrian said a hearing in Donegal would facilitate family members wishing to travel from Derry for the hearing as well as preparation of a potential defence.
Judge Gibbons refused the applications. He said Harristown District Court - which is linked to the Castlerea prison complex - was specially designed for custody remand cases involving serious charges. The judge added: "I can't see any earthly reason in this world why he should be remanded to Donegal."
Mr Cahoon was remanded in custody to Harristown Court next Friday at 11am.