Man charged with Cork murder

Gardaí arrested a man early today and charged him with committing a murder in Cork city last May.

Michael O’Driscoll, 34, of no fixed address and of Lower Killeens, Blarney, County Cork, was charged with murdering Patrick Walsh at 62 Fair Hill Drive, Cork on May 27 last contrary to common law.

Twenty-seven-year-old father-of-one Walsh died at his own home.

Detective Sergeant Denis Cahill arrested O’Driscoll at 7.30am today at Cathedral Road, Cork.

He brought O’Driscoll to Gurranabraher garda station where the defendant was charged and cautioned that he did not have to make a reply but that whatever he would say could be taken down in writing and given in evidence. He made no response.

Frank Buttimer was appointed to represent the accused on free legal aid after it was stated that the defendant was unemployed.

Judge Con O’Leary remanded O’Driscoll in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on January 13, on the application of Inspector Denis O’Shea. O’Driscoll was not required to speak during the brief hearing.

He was unshaven and wore blue jeans and a navy shirt buttoned to the neck. O’Driscoll is the second man to be charged with the murder of Patrick Walsh. Frank Cunningham, 19, from 71 Bridevalley View, Fairhill, Cork, was also charged with the same murder last year.

The case will eventually go to trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.