Crime & Law

Man charged with murder of his father (64) at his Dublin home

Body of Michael Whelan was discovered with injuries, including stab wounds, in Rialto on Tuesday

Seth Whelan who is charged with the murder of his father Michael Whelan (64) arriving at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Thursday. Photograph: Collins Courts

Tom Tuite
Thu Feb 29 2024 - 17:59

A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged with the murder of his father, who was found dead in his Dublin home earlier this week.

Michael Whelan (64), known to friends and neighbours as ‘Mick the handyman’ or ‘American Mick’, was discovered with serious injuries, including stab wounds, on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers had carried out a welfare check at his flat in Herberton Park, Rialto, Dublin 8.

Gardaí arrested Seth Whelan (33) who lived at the same address as the deceased, on Wednesday morning, and brought him to Kilmainham garda station for questioning.

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He was charged and held pending his appearance before Judge Shalom Binchy at Dublin District Court on Thursday evening.

He is accused of murdering his father in their flat between February 19th and 27th. He is also accused of producing a table leg and a knife as weapons over the same eight-day period.

The man also faces another charge for causing criminal damage to a Ring doorbell at a neighbouring property on February 20th.

Dressed in a navy jumper, light grey tracksuit bottoms and black shoes, Mr Whelan sat with his head bowed throughout the brief hearing.

Detective Sergeant Daniel Charles told the court that he arrested the accused at 3.20 pm. Mr Whelan made no reply to caution, “but indicated he understood the reason for his arrest”. A short time later, the offences were put to him and “he made no reply to any of the charges after caution”.

The District Court cannot consider bail in a murder case, which requires a High Court application.

Judge Binchy remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on March 7th. She also acceded to a request from defence solicitor Sandra Frayne to direct that the accused gets psychiatric attention in custody.

Mr Whelan did not address the court and communicated only to quietly inform his solicitor that he agreed to appear via video link at his next hearing.

There was no indication of how he intends to plead but legal aid was granted after Ms Frayne furnished the court with a statement of her client’s means.

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