A man who confessed to the murders of two psychiatric patients in Grangegorman, Dublin, has now withdrawn his statement, according to gardai. He has now claimed that specific information about the killings which was contained in his four-page statement had been obtained through newspapers and local knowledge, according to a source close to the case.
His confession was the result of the trauma of his arrest on other serious criminal charges, according to a statement sent by his solicitor to the Director of Public Prosecutions last Friday.
Another man, Mr Dean Lyons (24), of Castle Park, Tallaght, has already been charged with the murder of Ms Mary Callanan (61), and remains in custody.
Gardai were baffled by the surprise confession. The second man made his statement shortly after his arrest on other serious charges.
The confession is said to contain an important detail about the circumstances surrounding the killings of Ms Callanan and her friend, Ms Sylvia Shields (59), at their sheltered accommodation in Orchard View, Grangegorman, on March 6th. This detail had not been publicised by investigating gardai. i in detail his movements on the evening before the women were killed. It is understood the man told gardai he had left a female companion in the city centre, walked towards Stoneybatter, where he stopped for drinks, and was seized by a compulsion to kill.
He described the murdered women's home in some detail and spoke of a third woman who was asleep in the house.
However, a letter from the man's solicitor has now claimed that information contained in his statement was obtained by him locally and through newspapers, according to the source.
The Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Byrne, has meanwhile directed Assistant Commissioner, Mr Jim McHugh, to re-examine the evidence in the case.