Ballyvaughan man Colm Deely has been jailed for life for the murder of Deirdre McCarthy.
The 41 year old father of two, from School Road, Ballyvaughan was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court who heard him admit strangling the 43 year old guest house worker, despite his denial of the murder charge.
Deirdre McCarthy was last seen after a Sunday night out with friends in Logues pub in Ballyvaughan in March of 2011.
Among those gathered in the bar was Colm Deely – the man who strangled her and dumped her body which was found 8 miles away washed up on Fanore Beach.
There had been an extensive search for the missing 43 year old when she failed to show up at a friend’s house to babysit.
In a victim impact statement, Helen Geoghegan said her sister Deirdre McCarthy was "a very caring person who loved life".
She told the court that when Colm Deely was asked if he knew of "Dee’s whereabouts" ‘he just stood there and blatantly said no’ – and she outlined how there has been no closure for her family, but said the passing of time had made Deirdre’s death more real – her murder causing constant nightmares and sleepless nights.
Today through his defence counsel Colm Deely apologised to all concerned and said he’d intended no harm.
Following his murder conviction yesterday evening Mr Justice Barry White today imposed a mandatory life sentence.
