Jimmy Devaney (63 ), the retired soldier charged in February with the murder of 37-year-old local woman Marie Greene, was presented with his book of evidence in the District Court this week (June 8 ), and sent forward for arraignment in the Central Criminal Court at its next sittings beginning on June 22.
Devaney, with an address at Millbrook, Monksland, Athlone, who has been free on a multi-conditional, €25,000 High Court bail since March 10, will have to enter a plea on this date. Depending on whether he pleads guilty or not guilty, he will then have a date set for either trial by jury, or for sentencing.
In the District Court this week, Garda Michael Ryan gave evidence of presenting the book of evidence to Devaney, while Peter D Jones for the DPP made the formal application that “the defendant be returned for trial at the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court at the Central Courts of Justice in Dublin on the sole count”.
He offered no State objections to a continuance of Devaney’s bail, as long as the conditions initially set down by the High Court were maintained.
Devaney’s new solicitor, Michael Finucane, applied for legal aid for himself and a junior counsel for the Central Criminal Court date, and Judge Seamus Hughes granted this. Devaney was accompanied in court by a number of family members.
The victim’s mother Winnie, and two sisters maintained a quiet, and dignified presence in court this week.
Though unemployed, the victim Marie Greene was well known around the town, and was regularly seen walking her dog Scooby. She was sole carer for her diabetic mother, and went missing after leaving the family home on St Mel’s Terrace at around 9pm on Sunday, February 13.
Her remains were recovered from an area of bogland near Tully Cross, Moydrum, about three kilometres outside Athlone on February 21, after an extensive Garda investigation.
Initial reports indicated Marie was stabbed, but the post mortem results have not been released to confirm this.
Devaney was charged on February 22 with one count of murder, contrary to Common Law, but was not granted bail until March 10, when Judge Seamus Hughes could fully clarify the provenance of the €25,000 independent surety set down as a condition of his release.
