26-year-old remanded over killing of two elderly brothers
Alan Cawley, whose address was given as Four Winds, Corrimbla, Ballina, Co Mayo, made a brief appearance before Judge Mary Devins at Swinford District Court yesterday.
Det Sgt Gary Walsh of Castlebar Garda Station said that he arrested the accused after 1am yesterday and later charged him with the murders of Jack Blaine and his brother Tommy at Newantrim St, Castlebar.
Sgt Walsh said Mr Cawley made no reply to the first charge. In response to the second charge, he said: “I am sorry for all the torture I put people through.”
Garda Supt Patrick Diskin applied to the court for a remand in custody to Harristown Court, Castlerea, on Friday next.
Niamh Bambrick, solicitor, asked that the accused be psychiatrically assessed in prison and closely monitored. She requested free legal aid for her client.
Judge Devins directed immediate psychiatric attention as appropriate.
Alan Cawley was dressed in an orange-coloured hoodie. He was flanked by detectives.
He did not speak at all during the brief hearing.
A woman, believed to be the accused man’s mother, sobbed at times during the hearing.
A number of relatives of the murdered Blaine brothers were in court and there was a palpable air of tension throughout the proceedings.
