A Dublin man accused of murdering his partner has been remanded in custody by a Spanish magistrate after appearing in court this afternoon.
Paul Hickey (28), originally of Buttercup Park, Darndale, was accused of beating Celine Conroy to death at the hearing in the south eastern town of Orihuela, near Alicante.
It could take several months before a decision on whether to charge Mr Hickey is taken, meaning he may be in jail for some time. Under Spanish law, the investigating magistrate must first establish whether charges are to be preferred before setting a trial date.
Ms Conroy (26) from Buckingham Street, in Dublin's city centre, was found dead in a pool of blood in the living room of her home in the holiday complex of Marina Oasis de San Fulgencio early on Sunday.
The couple's three children, two boys, aged one and eight, and a girl, aged five, are believed to have been in the house at the time of the attack and witnessed their mother's death. They are now in the care of their aunt who lives nearby.
The family had been staying at the villa near Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca for the last two months. They were annual visitors to the villa and were known by members of the local community.
Neighbours and had in the past complained of loud arguments involving the couple after heavy bouts of drinking. A neighbour raised the alarm on the day of Ms Conroy's death.