Murder accused sent for trial

A 37-year-old man charged with the murder of a woman in Passage West last February and setting fire to her home was served with a book of evidence yesterday.

Garda Seán Minihan served the book on Darren Murphy, of Dan Desmond Villas, Passage West, Co Cork, at Cork District Court. On the application of Insp John Deasy, Judge Leo Malone sent the case forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court.

It will now be a matter for a date to be fixed for a trial by judge and jury.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, had legal aid extended for the appointment of junior and senior counsel to represent the accused at the trial.

The first charge faced by Murphy is one of murder of Olivia Dunlea O’Brien, a 36-year-old mother of three, at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, on Feb 17.

Her body was found in an upstairs bedroom of her house at about 6am by firefighters after they spent several hours bringing a fire at the house under control.

The second charge is that he did commit arson in that he did, without lawful excuse, damage property by fire with the intention of damaging such property or being reckless as to whether it would be damaged.

The defendant has appeared a number of times by video link from prison but appeared in court yesterday.