A 33-year-old woman pleaded guilty at Clonmel Circuit Court yesterday to aiding the abduction of six-year-old Deirdre Crowley.
Deirdre's father Christopher murdered her in Clonmel, Co Tipperary on August 30th, 2001 before taking his own life. He had been on the run with his daughter since December 1999.
Ms Regina Nelligan of Carriganagroghera, Fermoy, Co Cork, was charged with abduction of a child other than by a parent, contrary to Section 17 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
The court heard how, on a date unknown between December 3rd, 1999 and August 31st, 2001, Regina Nelligan, without lawful authority, removed the child from the control of her mother Ms Christine O'Sullivan.
Ms O'Sullivan attended yesterday's hearing. The defendant looked shaken and drawn as she entered a guilty plea before Judge Michael O'Shea. Defence counsel, Mr Niall Doorin SC, said that his client was undergoing continuing psychiatric treatment and investigation.
He sought an adjournment of the matter. Barrister for the State, Mr Johnny Walsh, asked for the case to be concluded at the March sitting of the circuit court in Clonmel.
He told Judge O'Shea that while that sitting was to deal primarily with civil cases, Judge Olive Buttimer had already agreed to hear a number of criminal cases on that occasion.
However, this suggestion was rejected and negotiations began between the two sides in a bid to agree a date for what is expected to be a day-long hearing ahead of sentencing.
When no agreement could be reached, Judge O'Shea remanded Ms Nelligan on continuing bail until January 30th under the terms and conditions set down during her last district court appearance.