Man appears in court in relation to fatal attack on woman

A 31-year-old man appeared in court today charged in connection with a fatal assault on a woman outside the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin city-centre last week.

Wesley Ward, with an address at Aras Na Cluaine, in Clondalkin, Dublin was charged at the Dublin District Court with assault causing harm to Tracy O’Brien (aged 31), at Parnell Square West, on June 18 last.

Ms O’Brien, from the North Circular Road, in Dublin was taken to Beaumont Hospital but died yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Desmond McTiernan told Judge Bridget Reilly that he arrested Mr Ward at 8.09pm on Thursday last at Store Street Garda station. He said the defendant made no reply after he was charged.

Defence counsel Ms Aoife O’Leary told Judge Reilly that Mr Ward would be making an application for bail.

Det. Sgt McTiernan replied that he was not objecting to bail subject to an independent surety of €5,000 and conditions being imposed on the defendant.

He requested that the defendant should sign on daily at his local Garda station between 8am and 8pm, reside at his address and surrender his passport.

Ms O’Leary said that her client did not have a passport and would be proposing his mother to act as an independent surety.

Judge Reilly remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail in his own bond of €500 and an independent surety in the sum of €5,000 and granted the conditions sought by Det-Sgt McTiernan

Mr Ward, who is unemployed and in receipt of social welfare, was remanded to appear again on July 24 next.