Man charged with killing mother

A MAN was last night remanded on bail after being charged with killing his elderly mother, who was found dead in her nursing home bed on Monday.

Gerard Vollrath, aged 46, formerly of Tramore, Co Waterford, but latterly living in Austria, was charged before Judge David Kennedy at Waterford District Court of the unlawful killing of Veronica (Vera) Vollrath, 83, at Killure Bridge Nursing Home, Waterford, on January 9.

He was arrested at Dublin Airport on Monday afternoon, hours after his mother died in her bedroom.

He was questioned at Waterford Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

An autopsy on the remains of Mrs Vollrath was carried out on Monday night and gardaí launched an investigation yesterday morning.

Management at the nursing home have expressed their sadness following the woman’s death.

It is understood the alarm was raised by a daughter of the deceased woman after staff at the nursing home had initially thought that Mrs Vollrath’s death was due to natural causes.