Manslaughter accused blames sleep deprivation for giving statement
The Court of Criminal Appeal today heard how a statement was taken from a man suspected of being involved in the disappearance of a 19-year-old civil servant, when he was “mentally drained” and sleep deprived.
Martin Conmey, who is trying to overturn his conviction for the manslaughter of Una Lynskey almost 40 years ago, told the three-judge court he had “not slept in 24 hours” and “would have said anything” when he gave gardaí an account of events alleged to have occurred on the evening she vanished.
This included a reference to having seen the young woman on Porterstown Lane, Ratoath, Co Meath on October 12, 1971.
The court also heard how he later asked to speak “in private” with the victim’s mother so he could tell her what he had told gardaí “was lies”, and that he “never saw” Ms Lynskey that evening.
Lawyers for Mr Conmey of Porterstown Lane, Ratoath, Co Meath are arguing that “newly discovered facts” will prove he was not responsible for the young woman’s death in 1971.
Her body was discovered on December 10, 1971, in a ditch in a remote part of the Dublin Mountains two months after she vanished while returning to her family home after work.
A post mortem examination failed to establish how the young civil servant died. She had no broken bones and there were no signs she was strangled.
In 1972, Martin Conmey and another man, Dick Donnelly, were convicted of her manslaughter. A year later, both men appealed and Donnelly’s conviction was overturned, but Martin Conmey served three years in prison for the offence.
A third man, Martin Kerrigan, was also suspected of having been involved in the crime, but he was abducted and killed a short time after the body of Ms Lynskey was discovered.
The CCA of Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman presiding, sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Mr Justice Eamon De Valera also heard that in the aftermath of Ms Lynskey’s disappearance, “every ditch, hole and cranny within five miles of the local area” was searched.
Lawyers for Mr Conmey claim that “newly discovered” facts in the case include the existence of “earlier” contradictory statements from key witnesses and a previously unknown allegation of violence and “oppression” by investigating gardaí against one of these.
Mr Conmey’s application, being brought under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, is part of his attempt to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice.
The hearing was expected to last four days but a further three days is now required to complete the application.
The CCA yesterday indicated the remainder of the hearing may take place on May 17, 18 and 19.
