Man appears in court accused of Aoife’s murder

A lorry driver charged with the murder of pregnant nanny Aoife Phelan is to receive psychiatric treatment in prison.

Up to 100 onlookers stood in silence outside Portlaoise District Court as Robert Corbet was brought before a special sitting. The court heard the 24-year-old, of Sheffield, Timahoe Rd, on the outskirts of the town, said “no” and shook his head when charged with murdering Ms Phelan on Oct 25, the day she disappeared.

Her badly beaten body was found hidden in a bin buried in a pit at the back of a property on the outskirts of the Co Laois town on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old, who was four months pregnant, went missing a fortnight ago.

Mr Corbet, who knew the victim, was arrested twice this week before he was charged.

Judge Catherine Staines remanded him in custody to Cloverhill Prison.

The judge agreed to an application by solicitor Declan Breen that Mr Corbet be given psychiatric attention in prison.

Dozens of local people lined Main St in Portlaoise as the accused was taken to the courthouse in an unmarked Garda car. Two men heckled and shouted abuse at Mr Corbet as he left the courthouse, with one chasing the unmarked car for a short distance.

Mr Corbet is charged with the murder of Ms Phelan at an area known as Capoley, Portlaoise.

Dressed in a black suit and black-and-white striped shirt, he did not speak during the short hearing.

Mr Breen requested that his client be given psychiatric attention and legal aid.

Supt Yvonne Lundon objected to the application for legal aid, saying: “The defendant has his own haulage business.”

Judge Staines ordered that a statement of means be prepared ahead of Mr Corbet’s next court appearance on Thursday.

Ms Phelan’s funeral will be held at 2pm today in St Patrick’s Church in Ballyroan.