Double murder trial date set

THE trial of a man who is accused of the double murders of Castlebar brothers Jack and Tom Blaine at their home over a year ago has been fixed for the Central Criminal Court, Dublin, next January.

Alan Cawley (27), Four Winds, Corrimbla, Ballina, has been in custody since his arrest in July of last year.

The Blaine brothers, both elderly, were found beaten to death by a care worker when she called to their house to give them breakfast and perform household chores. One of the brothers was found dead in a bedroom and the body of the other was found in the backyard of the building.

 

Witnesses from the Castlebar area were subpoenaed last week to give evidence in the trial of Alan Cawley, which is fixed to begin towards the end of January.

Jackie (76) and Tom (69) were popular in the community, with Jackie frequently strolling around the town and meeting people while Tom enjoyed watching the comings and goings in Newantrim Street through the window of their modest, two-storey dwelling.