Man charged with sister's murder

The 19-year-old brother of Co Clare teenager Marguerite O'Dwyer appeared in court last night charged with his sister's murder.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court, Mr Patrick O'Dwyer, Sroohill, Ennistymon, appeared in connection with the alleged murder of his 17-year-old sister on Monday.

Her body was discovered by gardaí in the living room of the family home on Tuesday afternoon after being told of her death by Mr O'Dwyer at the local Garda station. It is understood the alleged offence took place between 11 p.m. and midnight on Monday night.

At the special court sitting last night, Mr O'Dwyer's solicitor, Mr Jim Finnegan, consented to an application from Supt Seán Corcoran that Mr O'Dwyer be remanded in custody to St Patrick's Institution in Dublin.

Giving evidence of arrest, Sgt Brian Howard, Ennistymon Garda station, said Mr O'Dwyer was formally charged with the murder at 4.05 p.m. yesterday. In response to the caution, Sgt Howard said Mr O'Dwyer had nothing to say.

On behalf of Mr O'Dwyer, Mr Finnegan applied for psychiatric intervention while in St Patrick's "as he may be a danger to himself".

Judge Joseph Mangan made the recommendation that Mr O'Dwyer see a psychiatrist and also granted legal aid after Supt Corcoran said that Mr O'Dwyer has been only working for four months and had no income. The murder charge was brought against Mr O'Dwyer yesterday after the preliminary results of a post-mortem by the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, concluded that she died after sustaining multiple injuries to her head.

In court, Mr O'Dwyer - who appeared distressed on a number of occasions - was accompanied and comforted by a small number of relatives.

His parents, Mr Paddy O'Dwyer and wife Claire, who arrived back in Ennistymon from a holiday in Spain yesterday afternoon, were not in court. Dressed in a green hooded coat, a Celtic football shirt, beige jeans and white runners, the accused also appeared to have a gash on his head. He was remanded in custody to reappear before Ennis District Court tomorrow.

Paying tribute to Marguerite, her school principal at Scoil Muire in Ennistymon, Ms Seosaimhín Uí Dhomhnalláin said: "Marguerite was a beautiful, very talented girl. May she rest in peace. I offer my condolences and the condolences of the entire school community to Marguerite's family." Counsellors yesterday attended the school to comfort students and staff.