A man who went onto murder his mother in a brutal attack ,was mistakenly released from custody three weeks before the attack, a court has heard.
22 year old Celyn Eadon, stabbed his mother Noreen Kelly to death
in a horrific attack at their home in Derrycrieve, Islandeady, Castlebar Co Mayo on March 9, 2011.
Mr Eadon a known drug user, is believed to have begun abusing solvents at the tender age of 10 and had gone through a profound personality change after suffering a serious beating aged 12, was jailed for life.
It is understood that Gardai had arrested Eadon three weeks before the attack on his mother, he then appeared at Castlebar District Court on a theft charge.
The court was told that Eadon should have been remanded in custody after the February 16, 2011 hearing. The Inspector of Prisons Judge Michael Reilly was asked to investigate the case three years ago and he has since revealed that Mr Eadon was unable to post bail when he appeared in court that day.
It is understood that an order for his remand and paperwork had been completed by court staff, but somehow Eadon managed to leave the courthouse that day. Mr Eadon was arrested on March 11, 2011 after he stabbed his mother to death at thir family home.
The court also heard that Mr Eadon had been suffering from serious hallucinations in the days leading up to the attack and he is believed to have started fires at the house.
Mr Eadon’s mother is alleged to have thrown a bag believed to have contained drugs in it into the fire the evening before she died. Numerous gardaí who had been involved in the case were disciplined over the mistaken release following an internal investigation by a chief superintendent. But the garda headquarters refused to comment on the action taken, they released a statement in which they said: “An Garda Síochána does not comment on the outcome of internal disciplinary procedures. “An Garda Síochána awaits the outcome of the GSOC examination into Garda practice, policy and procedure in relation to dealing with persons who are committed to custody on remand by a court.”
Although Judge Reilly had said that former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan accepted from an early stage that the correct remand documentations had been filed by court staff on February 16, 2011.
Mr Reilly has said his report found that the proper procedures were followed in the court. On the back of the mistaken release,judge Reilly revealed that the Courts Service have since devised a new protocol for the preparation, checking and issuing of warrants in provincial district courts.