This article is from page 1 of the 2013-06-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
A JURY has begun deliberating in the trial of a Clare farmer, Joe Heffernan , charged with murdering a 21-year-old student on his land two years ago.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy yesterday (Monday) told the seven women and five men of the jury that they could reach one of three possible verdicts, none of which could be an acquittal.
Meanwhile the trial of Colm Deely (41), who is accused of murdering Deirdre McCarthy was adjourned for a number of days last week. It resumes this morning (Tuesday).
It is expected to have concluded by the end of this week.
A forensic psychiatrist told the Heffernan trial that the accused (33) knew what he was doing was wrong when he killed a student, whom he said was the devil. Dr Sally Linehan of the Central Mental Hospital was giving evidence to the Central Criminal Court in the trial of the farmer charged with murdering the 21-year-old on his farm.
Dr Linehan testified last Wednesday that she had interviewed Mr Heffernan three times since the incident and had studied his records from his time in the Central Mental Hospital following his arrest. The trial also heard harrowing testimony from two friends who were with Eoin Ryan on the night he died.