THE husband of the murder victim Mrs Philomena Gillane had not left the jurisdiction, the Garda said last night, despite his non appearance at Galway District Court yesterday and a judge issuing a warrant for his arrest.
Mr Patrick Gillane (34), of Glenbrack, Gort, Co Galway, was due before the court charged with soliciting Mr Christopher Bolger and Mr Michael Doyle in January 1994 to murder his wife. His case had been adjourned from a previous court sitting.
Gardai in Gort believed he was still at his home, amid reports that he might be ill or that his non appearance was an oversight. A spokesman said they were aware the warrant was to be issued, but by late afternoon it had yet to arrive at Ballinasloe Garda station, which would serve it.
Frequently, where a defendant fails to appear in court and his whereabouts are known, the warrant is served shortly before the next available sitting, he noted.
On that basis, it was expected that Mr Gillane might be brought before Galway District Court tomorrow.
Judge William Early said he was certifying a breach of bail, and ordered that the bench warrant be issued after he established that Mr Gillane was absent.
Mr Colman Sherry, defending solicitor, failed to find his client after requesting that the case be recalled.
Mr Sherry had told the court he was consenting to the application by Insp Padraic Rattigan, prosecuting, to adjourn the case until May 14th for the taking of sworn statements.
But Judge Early said he required Mr Gillane to be in court. The defendant was on continuing bail on his own surety of £2,000 and two independent sureties of £10,000 each.
At a previous sitting he was ordered to report to Gort Garda station every Friday; not to go within a three mile radius of his late wife's family, the Gordons, who live at Caltra, Co Galway; and not to communicate with the Gordon family or their immediate relatives.