A 16-year-old boy wept in court today as he was charged with the murder of 19-year-old Rebecca Kinsella in Co Kildare on Tuesday night.
The young woman was found beaten to death at her home in Grattan Court, Celbridge.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was brought to a special sitting of the Children's Court in Kildare town in an unmarked Garda car and taken inside with his head covered.
Judge Murragh Connellan took the hearing in his private chamber because of the accused's age.
Sergeant Ashley O'Sullivan said he arrested the boy at 6.24 pm yesterday at Naas Garda Station and charged him with the murder of Ms Kinsella at 7.28pm.
"I cautioned him and in reply he said: 'Yeah'."
The boy, dressed in a white sports top, light blue jeans and white runners sat on a chair in obvious distress with his head in his hands. His mother, who was seated in a chair beside him, cried softly and held his hand throughout the brief hearing.
Superintendent Tom Neville of Naas Garda Station applied for the boy to be remanded in custody at St Patrick's Institution for Young Offenders in Dublin and for him to appear at Naas courthouse at 1pm next Thursday, February 2nd.
Judge Connellan granted the application and said any claim for legal aid could be made in writing. Dublin-based solicitor Conal Boyce, representing the boy, said his client was in a fragile state and asked Judge Connellan to make an order that the prison authorities would grant him any attention that he would require.
The accused was treated at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown before being detained for questioning yesterday.