Man (34) appears in court charged with murdering partner (26) in Co Meath

A 34-year-old man appeared at Trim District Court at the weekend charged with murdering his 26-year-old partner.

Daniel Blanaru was charged with the murder of Larisa Serban, the mother of two children, at Rathmore, Athboy on Friday.

Ms Serban died at the house she rented at Rathmore, near Athboy, at about 5am on Friday.

Medics and gardaí rushed to the property, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Ms Serban, from Romania, had been in Ireland for several years. She lived in Co Westmeath before moving to Athboy with her family about a year ago.

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The accused, Daniel Blanaru, handed himself into gardaí. Following arrest, he was taken to Ashbourne Garda station, where he was held overnight for questioning. On Saturday afternoon, he was charged with the murder of Larisa Serban on August 12th at her home.

Detective Sergeant Colm McNally gave evidence of having arrested the accused and charging him on Saturday afternoon. He said the accused made no reply to the charge.

Dressed in a blue T-shirt, navy tracksuit bottoms and runners, Mr Blanaru stood silently throughout the brief hearing. He listened to the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter.

Defending solicitor Maurice Regan applied for and was granted free legal aid on behalf of the accused. He said his client had been very co-operative during the course of the investigation.

Judge Miriam Walsh remanded Mr Blanaru in custody to appear again at Trim District Court on Tuesday via video link.

Mr Regan told the court the translator had been helpful during the investigation.

The judge said it was “imperative” that the accused would have the translator’s assistance at the next hearing.

Mr Regan said his client fell into the criteria for legal aid and the judge noted there was no garda objection.

Judge Walsh granted it and she also acceded to a request from the defence to direct a psychiatric assessment of Mr Blanaru in custody.

The solicitor explained there had been “a number of issues in relation to my advice that he is not taking in”.