Man denies murder of Christy Hanley

The trial of a man accused of murdering 83 year old Christy Hanley in Kilbeggan last year began yesterday (Thursday) at the Central Criminal Court. Noel Cawley, of no fixed abode, with a previous address in Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Hanley in Kilbeggan on May 21 last year. Cawley also pleaded guilty to robbing Mr Hanley of an unknown amount of money at the same place on the same date. Lawyers for the State told the jury yesterday morning that the prosecution will argue the Mr Hanley, an elderly horse trader, was serverely beaten by Cawley during a robbery at Mr Hanley"s home in Bridge Street, Kilbeggan. Alex Owen SC said Christy Hanley was a well-known man who bought and sold horses and was known to deal in large amounts of cash. The court heard that a man fitting the description of Noel Cawley was seen in two pubs in Kilbeggan on May 21 last year talking to Mr Hanley. Mr Hanley went home at about 6pm and a man fitting Cawley"s description was seen emerging from the area of Mr Hanley"s home about 20 minutes later. The following day a call was made to Tullamore Garda Station to say Mr Hanley was tied up in his house. Gardai found Mr Hanley lying beside an overturned chair with a coat over his head and his hands and feet tied. The trial is continuing at the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last two weeks.