Dismembered rapist was due in court
The convicted rapist whose arm was found washed up on a Dublin beach was due before the courts only last week for breaching his post release conditions.
James Nolan (aged 46) had his case re-entered before a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judge on Monday of last week.
He had failed to sign on with the probation service which was part of a post-release order following his completion of a three-year sentence for burglary.
Judge Yvonne Murphy heard he had not been seen for some time by gardaí or the Probation Service. When Nolan failed to turn up for the hearing she put the matter back until next May so he could be tracked down.
He faced reactivation of the 18-month suspended portion of his burglary sentence for failing to comply with the conditions of his release. The case is likely to be withdrawn on the next date.
Nolan was released from the Midlands Prison in November after serving part of a three-year term. In February his severed arm was found washed up on a beach in Dollymount.
DNA from the limb was sent to Interpol in France who matched it to Nolan. Gardaí have launched a murder investigation in the belief his body was dismembered and dumped in the sea.
Following his release from prison last November, Nolan was to meet with the Probation Service on a regular basis for one year. When he failed to do this, the service entered the matter before Judge Murphy.
Nolan of Fairlawn Road, Finglas was jailed for 14 years in 1986 when he was convicted of both rape and false imprisonment.
It was a fingerprint that was taken from him when he first went into custody in the 80s that led to his arrest for the burglary in 2005.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary in Booterstown on July 2, 2005. He also had other previous convictions for larceny and road traffic offences.
Judge Katherine Delahunt sentenced him to three years but suspended the final 18 months of the term and also imposed 12 months probation. She further ordered him to undergo alcohol and drug treatment.
A report from the Probation Service at the time noted Nolan was at a high risk of re-offending due to his abuse of alcohol and drugs.
