A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 60-year-old man who was found dead in his apartment in Dublin’s south inner city a week ago.
Michael Byrne (36), Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday afternoon.
He was charged with the murder of Denis Brennan, Bow Bridge complex, Kilmainham, Dublin, between July 5th and July 8th last. The accused, dressed in grey trousers and white striped shirt, did not speak during the brief court appearance before Judge Bryan Smyth.
Mr Byrne’s solicitor Niall O’Connor told the court his client was unemployed and may be in need of medical and psychiatric treatment. The accused was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin, Dublin.
He is scheduled to appear before Cloverhill District Court again on Friday.
Det Sgt Michael O’Brien told the court that when he put the charge to Mr Byrne just after 1.30pm yesterday at Kilmainham Garda station, Mr Byrne made no reply.
A murder inquiry into Mr Brennan’s death started after his remains were found in the living room area of his flat at the Bow Bridge complex last Tuesday morning.
A friend who had failed in his efforts to contact Mr Brennan for several days went to the flat to check on him and found his body at the property. There was no sign of forced entry and the flat did not appear to have been robbed.
Gardaí believe Mr Brennan had been dead for a number of days before his remains were found. CCTV footage recorded from cameras outside the Bow Bridge complex was studied as part of the investigation.
Mr Brennan was a separated father of three. He had separtated from his wife almost 20 years ago and had been living at the Bow Bridge local authority complex for a number of years.
Gardaí went to an address in Crumlin on Sunday morning and arrested the accused. He was taken to Kilmainham Garda station where he was questioned under section four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 about the murder.