‘It was self defence’: Man charged with Wicklow murder

The body parts of Patricia O’Connor were found scattered along a 20 to 30km stretch of the mountains.

A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a Dublin grandmother.

The remains of 61-year-old Patricia O’Connor were found scattered in the Wicklow Mountains over the past few days.

Last Saturday a garda investigation was launched after walkers found a torso near Enniskerry in Co Wicklow.

Since then various body parts have been found scattered along a 20 to 30km stretch of the area and tests confirmed the remains belonged to Patricia O’Connor – a grandmother from South Dublin.

This afternoon Kieran Green of Mountain View Park in Churchtown in Dublin appeared in court charged with her murder - which is alleged to have taken place between May the 29th and 30th at that address.

Tallaght District Court heard Mr Green was charged at Bray Garda Station at 11.28 this morning by Garda Ross Callaghan and his reply after he was cautioned was ‘it was self defence’.

Mr Green kept his head bowed and did not speak during the brief hearing.

He has been remanded in custody to appear in court again next week.