Bernadette witness could still be quizzed
A POSSIBLE witness in the case of murdered schoolgirl Bernadette Connolly could still be questioned -- if the garda opt to reopen the case.
The revelation comes after an appeal in the Herald by broadcaster Gerry Ryan to have the 39-year-old cold case re-examined.
The schoolgirl (10) disappeared close to her Co Sligo home in April 1970, and her body was discovered three months later 15 miles away.
Gardai had two suspects in the case: a priest, Fr Columba; and a second person, a monk.
An eyewitness saw the monk in a green van close to the scene of Bernadette's disappearance on the day she went missing.
Fr Columba died in 2001, but the monk is still alive.
He is suspected of having invaluable knowledge about the case, and is resident in Ireland.
Justice
His testimony could be vital in getting justice for Bernadette and her family.
A source said: "If the garda cold case unit re-examine the case, he is available for questioning."
Bernadette went missing in April 1970 in Collooney, Co Sligo, while cycling to collect groceries.
The Connolly family yesterday made an emotional plea for the case to be reopened and for modern DNA evidence to be used to find the truth.
Bernadette's sister Kerrie Aldridge revealed the pain that her family still endures and the suspicion the family has had of the Church since the brutal killing.
"Our sister's death is still fresh for our family," she said. "It is a constant sore, an open wound for all of us.
"We would like the gardai to use DNA methods to examine her clothes."
The Herald also revealed there had been huge discrepancies in the case.
Retired officers have said that there is obvious evidence of collusion between senior gardai and the Church, including the fact that vital evidence mysteriously vanished. Bernadette's family were understandably furious.
Suspect
Former gardai have also described how they were instructed not to arrest the main suspect, Fr Columba.
One former detective said: "I got this instruction to ... bring Father Columba in.
"But the night before, [the order] came from very senior figures that I was to forget about it."
hnews@herald.ie
- Cormac Byrne
