A 27-year-old Galway city man has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin charged with the murder of Swiss student Manuela Riedo.

Gerard Barry.

Gerard Barry, a native of Mervue in Galway city, with an address at 187 Rosan Glas, Rahoon, Galway, is charged with the murder of 17-year-old Manuela Riedo at Lough Atalia, Galway, on 8 October last. Barry, who has been held in custody since last October, appeared before Galway District Court on Monday, wearing a blue sweater, navy shirt and jeans.

Sergeant Brendan Carroll gave evidence of serving a Book of Evidence on the accused moments earlier in the courtroom.

Inspector Pat McHugh said the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to the accused being sent forward for trial to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Judge Mary Fahy returned Barry for trial in custody to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court. She told him that if his defence was to rely on alibi he was to let his solicitor and the State know what that alibi was within the next two weeks.

Judge Fahy granted Barry free legal aid and on the application of defence solicitor, Olivia Traynor, she granted legal aid for one junior and one senior counsel to represent the accused at his trial in the Central Criminal Court. The judge noted that as the accused faced a murder charge, bail was not a matter for the District Court.

The body of Manuela Riedo was found on waste ground on the banks of Lough Atalia on the approach to Galway City and adjacent to Ceannt Railway Station by a man out walking his dog at 9.30am on 9 October last.

Gardaí believe the victim, who had just been in Ireland for just two days and was attending an English Language School, was taking a shortcut into the city when she was murdered sometime after 7.15pm on Monday8 October last.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment