Phelan murder accused sent forward for trial

Lorry driver charged with killing Co Laois nanny last year

The remains of Aoife Phelan are carried to St Patrick's Church, Ballyroan, Co Laois for her funeral last November. Photograp: Colin Keegan/Collins, Dublin.
The remains of Aoife Phelan are carried to St Patrick's Church, Ballyroan, Co Laois for her funeral last November. Photograp: Colin Keegan/Collins, Dublin.

A lorry driver accused of the murder of nanny Aoife Phelan in Co Laois in October last year has been served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.

Robert Corbet (24), of Sheffield Cross, Timahoe Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois had said “no” when he was charged in November. He has been accused of murdering the 30-year-old nanny at Capoley, Portlaoise, on October 25th, the date of her disappearance.

Her body was found concealed in a bin buried in a pit on the outskirts of the town on November 7th.

Aoife Phelan, whose body was discovered in the garden of a house on Timahoe Road, in Portlaoise, Co Laois
Aoife Phelan, whose body was discovered in the garden of a house on Timahoe Road, in Portlaoise, Co Laois

Two days later Mr Corbet had been remanded in custody following a brief hearing at Portlaoise District Court. An order was also made that he was to receive psychiatric treatment during his remand in custody.

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Mr Corbet, whose haulage business is being wound up, appeared again today at Cloverhill District Court before Judge Grainne Malone where he served with a book of evidence.

Judge Malone then made an order sending him forward for trial at the next term of the Central Criminal Court.

The lorry driver was first arrested by gardai on Monday, November 5th in connection with the disappearance of Aoife Phelan who was from Ballyroan in Co Laois.

He was released without charge shortly before midnight on Tuesday, November 6th.

He was re-arrested and charged after Ms Phelan’s body was discovered following a dig at Timahoe Road the next day.