Three men charged over a series of incidents that resulted in the deaths of two teenagers in a crash in Cork have been found not guilty by direction of the trial judge.
James Quilligan (23) of St Martin’s Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Shane Ahern, (21) formerly of Willow Bank, Fairhill, Cork, and Thomas Murphy (42) of 23 Spriggs Road, Gurranabraher, Cork were all charged with falsely imprisoning Darren Lenehan on May 13th.
But following legal argument at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patrick Moran directed the jury to find all three men not guilty of the charge and they are no longer part of the trial which is continuing with three other defendants.
A fourth man, Phillip Murphy (40) of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny was also found not guilty by the jury on the direction of Judge Moran of falsely imprisoning Darren Lenehan at Hollywood Estate, Blarney Road, Cork.
Philip Murphy, together with another accused, James Simms (27) of Adelaide Terrace, Cork, remains on trial on a charge of dangerous driving causing the deaths of CJ Dolan (16) and Derry O’Callaghan (19) at Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny on May 14th.
A sixth accused, John Heaphy (24) of Oak Drive, Classis Lake, Ballincollig, Co Cork, remains on trial on a single count of threatening to damage property belonging to Thomas Murphy at Spriggs Road, Gurranebraher on May 13th.
The trial has heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist, Margaret Bolster regarding the deaths of CJ Dolan and Derry O’Callaghan who were both rear seat passengers in a red Ford Mondeo which crashed into the gable end of a house.
