Wicklow shooting suspect appears in court

The brother of a pensioner shot dead in Co Wicklow appeared in court today charged in connection with his death.

Cecil Tompkins (aged 62) appeared before Baltinglass District Court accused of assault causing harm to his elder sibling Walter Tompkins at their rural farmhouse in Cronelea near the village of Shillelagh on Thursday evening.

Mr Tompkins (aged 66) was shot with a single-barrelled shotgun and died at the scene.

His younger brother was remanded in custody to appear at the same court on Tuesday.

The brothers lived together on the isolated farm the family have owned for around 40 years.

It is understood their elderly mother, who had also lived in the home, died last month.