Husband accused of assault after wife's death

The husband of a 41-year-old woman who died at her home in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, will appear in court again tomorrow after being charged on Saturday with assaulting her.

Mr Anton Mulder (43) of Maelduin, Dunshaughlin, was charged with assault causing harm to Ms Colleen Mulder (41) at the same address. Mr Mulder, originally from South Africa, appeared at a special sitting of Navan District Court on Saturday.

He was charged at the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions, under section three of the non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act, and remanded in custody to Clover Hill Prison until tomorrow when he will appear at Dunshaughlin District Court.

Ms Mulder, a mother of six children aged from one to 18 years, was found in the bedroom of her home on Friday morning.

The accused was led handcuffed from an unmarked Garda car to the District Court.

Mr Mulder cried and held his head in his hands during the hearing.

Sgt James Troy of Ashbourne detective unit told Judge John Brophy that he arrested Mr Mulder at 1.18 p.m. on Friday and he was brought to Navan Garda station where his detention was extended for a further six hours under section four of the Criminal Justice Act.

Sgt Troy said that at 11.50 p.m. he charged the defendant and in reply, when cautioned he said "yeah".

Supt Charlie Devine told the judge gardaí objected to bail. "There is a considerable amount of evidence in relation to the charge," he said, adding that gardaí expected to bring charges "of a more serious nature" against the defendant. He said Mr Mulder had connections outside the State and gardaí feared that he would not adhere to the conditions of his bail.

His solicitor, Mr Liam Keane, of Dunshaughlin, said Mr Mulder had taken out Irish citizenship and surrendered his South African passport when he did so.

Mr Keane sought bail and said his client would comply with the conditions. "His children are resident in the State and he is employed in Dublin."

Judge Brophy said: "I am going with the State. He has no ties here." The judge added that the defendant had connections with Northern Ireland.

Mr Keane said, however, that "his wife is from the Six Counties but his children reside in this State".

Denying bail, Judge Brophy said gardaí believed he would not adhere to the bail condition. The judge granted free legal aid.

The defendant was remanded to Clover Hill Prison until 10.30 a.m. tomorrow when he will appear at Dunshaughlin District Court.