Murder accused unable to attend court

A neighbour charged with murder and attempted murder of a 66-year-old woman and her daughter following a gun attack at a family home in Tallaght in Dublin, was unable to attend a court hearing yesterday.

Grandmother Mary Dargan died from a shotgun blast to the head after she encountered a man entering the back of her house, at the Killinarden Estate at around 4pm on Saturday last.

Her 34-year-old daughter, Karina Dargan, who also lives in the house, suffered injuries to her face; she was taken to Tallaght Hospital but was later released.

Several of Mrs Dargan’s grandchildren, including a four-year-old girl, were in the house at the time and were frantically passed out windows.

Two days later, a neighbour, 58-year-old James Redmond, appeared before a court in Dublin charged with murder and attempted murder.

He had been remanded in custody with an order made that he was to be psychologically assessed and he had been due to appear at Cloverhill District Court yesterday.

However, a sick warrant was furnished to the court and Judge Grainne Malone further adjourned the case in his absence until April 2 next.