A town that showed so much cohesion four years ago when the whole community joined forces to search for missing 11-year-old Robert Holohan, was yesterday divided as the schoolboy's killer was released from prison.

Wayne O'Donohue pictured leaving the Midlands Prison this morning flanked by his father and solicitor Frank Buttimer. Picture: Collins, Dublin, Colin Keegan.

Wayne O' Donoghue served three years at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise for the manslaughter of Robert Holohan.

On his release, Mr O' Donoghue made a brief statement to the media in which he apologised to the Holohan family for causing to them the loss of their beloved Robert. "I fully accept responsibility not only for that loss but also for the additional grief and distress which I have caused to them owing to my actions following Robert's death.

"I realise and accept that nothing which I may do or say will ever ease their suffering. I feel and carry the burden of guilt for my actions each day. I also profoundly regret the hurt and distress which I have caused to the wider community," he said.

As news spread about Wayne O' Donoghue's departure from the prison, so did public opinion surrounding his release with much airtime taken up with discussions about what the former engineer now plans to do and how he would be received in his hometown.

Local town councillor Margaret Trundle said from what she could see the town was very much divided on how they felt about the release. "That's understandable though," she said, "I wouldn't say it is a 50/50 divide, it's not that clear cut because people have not been discussing it openly because the hurt is too deep."

Cllr Trundle says that at this time her heart now goes out to the Holohans and said that while she could sympathise with the O' Donoghue parents, they now had their son back. She added that she couldn't see how Wayne O' Donoghue would settle back in the East Cork town, as had been reported as his intentions, because of the hurt it would cause the Holohans having to pass him on the town's streets. "Personally, I don't think he has paid his debt," she said.

Another local representative Cllr Ken Murray said that the matter was not contentious in Midelton and that people had different views on it. However, he added, that he was confident that any people who had an issue with Mr O' Donoghue would just walk past him.

Meanwhile, Wayne O' Donoghue's solicitor, Frank Buttimer urged the public to give Wayne "time and space" to move on saying his client would find it difficult to adapt to life after prison.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment