Judge reorders psych test in murder case

A judge has again ordered a psychiatric assessment on a Co Donegal man charged with the murders of his parents.

Julian Cuddihy, 42, appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court yesterday morning.

He had been remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison after appearing at Ballyshannon District Court last Friday night last.

At that sitting, Judge Kevin Kilrane asked to have the accused psychologically assessed as soon as was practicably possible.

However, when he appeared yesterday morning, his solicitor Ray Lannon said this had not taken place yet. Judge Paul Kelly asked what the reason for the delay was. He was told by Mr Lannon that Castlerea Prison did not have the facilities to have a psychiatric assessment.

Garda Inspector Goretti Sheridan said a Dr Kennedy from the Central Mental Hospital had contacted Castlerea Prison, describing it as “a work in progress”.

Judge Paul Kelly then ordered Mr Cuddihy to be remanded in custody to appear at Harristown Court on Friday week, November 7. Cuddihy waved and greeted relatives when he arrived in the court but did not speak during the brief hearing. He is charged with two counts of murder at Churchtown, Carndonagh, in or around October 22.

It follows an incident in which both his parents, Jimmy, 77, and Kathleen, 73, were found dead at their home on Thursday morning last.

Hundreds of people turned up for the popular couple’s funerals in Carndonagh on Tuesday.

Among the items found as part of the Garda investigation was an axe.