Former girlfriend of convicted killer arrested for failing to show up in court

A former girlfriend of Melanie McCarthy McNamara's killer has been brought before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Stephanie Tuite from Glenshane in Tallaght was arrested after failing to show up to give evidence in the teenager's murder trial.

Melanie McCarthy McNamara died after being shot in the head as she sat in the back of a parked car in Tallaght almost two years ago.

After a seven day trial, Daniel McDonnell of Brookview Lawns, Tallaght was found guilty of her murder last Friday.

A key piece of evidence used against McDonnell was a letter he wrote to his then girlfriend Stephanie Tuite while being held at St. Patrick's Institution.

The letter boasted about killing Melanie and Stephanie was called as a witness in his trial.

She was due to take the stand last week but failed to show up and a bench warrant for her arrest was issued on Thursday.

The 19-year-old was arrested at her home in the early hours of this morning.

Mr. Justice Paul Carney told her he had evidence that she "deliberately went to ground" and described her actions as a "grave contempt of court".

He advised her to get legal representation and remanded her on bail to return to court in two day's time.