Wicklow farmer murder case set for retrial

A 63-year-old Wicklow farmer with advanced Parkinson's Syndrome is to be retried in 2014 for the murder of his older brother at their Wicklow home.

Cecil Tomkins was jailed for life by the Central Criminal Court in April, after being found guilty of murdering 66-year-old Walter Tomkins at Cronlea, Shillelagh on July 1, 2010.

However, he was released on bail to a nursing home last week after having his conviction quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal, who ruled that the jury in his murder trial had not been properly directed.

His bail hearing was told the the bachelor is severely disabled, uses a wheelchair and is incapable of independent living.