He was not charged with Mrs Smyth's murder for 27 years. Two of them gave evidence of hearing a heated argument between Malone and Mrs Smyth and one, Geraldine Brennan, gave evidence of having heard Malone threaten Mrs Smyth. He denied murdering Mrs Smyth and denied having entered her home on the date in question. Mr Justice Mahon, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards said the court was satisfied that Malone’s trial was fair and that his ability to mount a defence was not unduly hampered by the lengthy delay. “He just said to me that he couldn’t make out how forensics says that Mrs Smyth was strangled,” he said.

Source: Irish Independent April 19, 2018 14:26 UTC