Young man with special needs is charged with murder of his mother
Patrick Dunne was brought before a District Court sitting in Killarney, charged with the murder of Susan Dunne at Ballinagearagh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, on Nov 27.
He was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution and is due to appear at Listowel District Court next Wednesday.
Ms Dunne’s body was found at the home the accused had shared with his mother, who was in her 50s, at Ballinagearagh for the past two years.
Detective Sergeant John Heaslip of Listowel Garda stations gave evidence of arresting Patrick Dunne on Thursday night and charging him soon afterwards.
He said Dunne made no reply after being charged and cautioned.
An application for a remand in custody was granted by Judge Olann Kelleher, who also granted free legal aid and accepted a recommendation that Dunne’s medical needs be met while he was in custody.
Solicitor Patrick Enright, for Dunne, did not oppose the application, but put the State on notice that he would be applying for bail.
He asked that whatever medical treatment was necessary be provided for his client, who had been in the special needs system for some time, and that special cognisance be paid to his particular needs while in custody.
Mr Enright also said he had been in touch with the HSE to meet his needs and in regard to services for him if he is released on bail.
He also said Dunne was on disability payment.
The accused arrived at the courthouse 15 minutes before the hearing in an unmarked Garda car. His father, Bill Dunne, was in the court.
The accused, wearing a green jumper and navy pants, looked around the courtroom during the hearing and sat calmly beside a plain-clothes, female garda who also led him from the court in handcuffs.
