Independent autopsy carried out, court hears

AN INDEPENDENT autopsy has been carried out on the body of 27-year-old Kilrush man Leslie Kenny, a court heard yesterday.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court, Brendan O’Sullivan (24) appeared in court for the second time, charged with the murder of Mr Kenny.

The solicitor for Mr O’Sullivan, Eugene O’Kelly, said that an independent autopsy has been carried out on the body of Mr Kenny on behalf of the defence.

In the case, Mr O’Sullivan of O’Gorman Street, Kilrush, is charged with the murder of Mr Kenny at O’Gorman Street, Kilrush, last Wednesday, July 29th.

Mr Kenny died after sustaining shotgun wounds in the west Clare town. State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy has already carried out a postmortem on Mr Kenny’s body.

Yesterday, Mr O’Kelly said he was making the court aware of the independent autopsy, as it would require the extension of Mr O’Sullivan’s legal aid certificate. Legal aid was granted last Friday.

In response, Judge Leo Malone said he didn’t know if he had authority to extend the certificate to cover the independent autopsy.

He told Mr O’Kelly: “I will grant it if it is correct in law, but I would like you to research it first.”

Mr O’Sullivan was making his second appearance in court yesterday in connection with the alleged offence and was again comforted by wife Claire and other family members and friends.

Insp Michael Gallagher of Ennis Garda station applied that Mr O’Sullivan be further remanded in custody for one week to next Monday.

However, Mr O’Kelly said that an application for bail will be made in the High Court next Monday for Mr O’Sullivan. He said: “The application is in train.” As a result, the judge remanded Mr O’Sullivan in custody to reappear before the Ennis District Court on Monday, August 17th.