CRIME reporter Michael O'Toole predicted that wife-killer Dermot McArdle would be behind bars in a Spanish jail before the 12th anniversary of his wife's death.
Michael, a journalist with 'The Star' who also lives in Louth, featured the 11 year long saga in his new book 'Slain Abroad' which chronicles the deaths of a series of Irish people abroad, including Kelly Ann Corcoran (28) who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Marbella on February 11th 2000.
Her husband, Dermot, was convicted in a Spanish court of her manslaughter in October 2008, but mounted a series of legal challenges to prevent serving the two year sentence he was handed down.
All of that changed on Friday last when McArdle dramatically revealed he would no longer be fighting extradition to Spain, and he will be flown out on Friday to begin his sentence.
'I had covered this case from the very beginning, it's been one of the most interesting because it has gone on so long.'
'On one side you had Dermot McArdle who fought every step of the way to clear his name, and on the other side there was the Corcoran family who were equally determined to get justice for Kelly Ann.'
Michael, a Spanish speaker, attended every day of the trial in Marbella nearly three years ago.
'Personally, there were so many things that stood out during the trial, but most of all it was the speech that Dermot McArdle gave on the stand. He was so cool and composed. It was one of the best performances I had ever seen.'
'But the worst moment of the trial was hearing Kelly Ann's name taken through the mud. It was heartbreaking really to see the impact that had on the family.
And he said it was a 'humbling' experience interviewing the Corcoran family on the day the verdict was delivered.
'It was obvious that they weren't interested in money, they just wanted him to say he was sorry.'
Michael welcomed last week's dramatic twist, saying 'It's been good to have followed this right through to its conclusion.
