Murder accused remanded in custody

STEPHEN CAHOON, who is accused of the murder of pregnant mother-of-four Jean Quigley in Derry, will know in three weeks what …

STEPHEN CAHOON, who is accused of the murder of pregnant mother-of-four Jean Quigley in Derry, will know in three weeks what case the prosecution is making against him.

The 36-year-old, who has opted to be tried in the Republic for the crime, will be given the book of evidence then, Harristown District Court in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, was told yesterday.

Supt Seán Ward said "all efforts" were being made to meet a deadline of September 19th for presentation of the book to the defence.

There was "substantial" cross-Border co-operation between investigating officers of the Garda and the PSNI.

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Judge Conal Gibbons, who at an earlier hearing refused to remand the case to a Donegal court - he said Harristown was specifically designed to deal with custody remand matters - said it was now appropriate to remand it to a court in the county where Mr Cahoon was arrested.

He said: "There may be issues that would arise and it's appropriate they be determined in the area in which this arose."

Mr Cahoon was remanded in continuing custody to Ballyshannon District Court on September 19th next. There was no application for bail.

He had opted at an earlier hearing for trial in the Republic,rather than be returned to the North for trial there.

Mr Cahoon, Harvey Street, Derry, who was arrested earlier this month in Donegal town, is accused of the murder of 30-year-old Jean Quigley who was two months pregnant when she was beaten to death at her home on July 26th, in Cornshell Fields, Shantallow, Derry.