Man charged with German tourist's murder

A 39-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of German journalist Bettina Poeschel.

Michael Murphy, from Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, was remanded last night at a specially convened hearing at Ardee District Court.

Murphy did not speak at the brief hearing and no application was made on his behalf for bail.

He will next appear before Drogheda District Court on November 2.

He was arrested yesterday morning in connection with the death of Ms Poeschel, 28, whose body was found by police in dense undergrowth in the nearby village of Donore, Co Meath, last week.

She went missing during a trip to the ancient Newgrange burial site at the end of September.

Following the discovery, DNA testing was used to confirm the identity of the badly decomposed body. Further tests are pending to establish the exact cause of death.

Another man and a woman who were also arrested yesterday have been released and face no further action, police said.

Murphy did not speak at the brief hearing and no application was made on his behalf for bail.