A Co Cork painter has been found guilty of murdering 60-year-old widow Anne Corcoran after abducting her from her farmhouse during a robbery.
The jury of five women and seven men reached a majority verdict of 10 to 2 after three hours and 41 minutes deliberating at the Central Criminal Court.
Oliver Hayes (49) of Bandon had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but had denied murdering her between January 19th and 21st, 2009.
Hayes admitted falsely imprisoning her in his home stealing €3,000 from her bank account following her death.
The 11-day trial heard that Hayes was in debt and decided to rob Mrs Corcoran because she was ‘a woman on her own’ in a big farmhouse and he thought she would have money.
“In January 2009, work was quiet,” he told the court. “I had put off paying some of the bigger bills, thinking something might come around the corner.”
Hayes had made no mortgage payments on his rubbish-filled, end-of-terrace house in almost two years. The local credit union was pursuing him for a €10,000 debt on which he had defaulted.
His van insurance was in arrears and he was about to lose it. He couldn’t have his damaged van repaired until he paid his mechanic money he already owed him. The photography enthusiast also owed a shop for an expensive camera.
“I thought I’d go to some place and rob it,” he said, explaining that he knew of Mrs Corcoran as he had worked with her husband, who had given him lifts to work, and he knew where her house was.
The court heard that Mrs Corcoran died of blunt force trauma to the head.
This was complicated by being gagged and having her hands tied behind her back, which would have impacted her breathing. She had to be identified by dental records.
Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded the murderer in custody for sentencing at Cork Courthouse on Wednesday, when he will receive a victim impact statement.