Murder accused remanded after being charged with Cork killing

A 36-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he was charged with the murder of a mother of three whose body was found following a house fire at her home in Co Cork early on Sunday morning.

Darren Murphy of Dan Desmond Villas, Passage West, Co Cork, appeared yesterday at Cork District Court where he was charged with the murder of Olivia Dunlea O’Brien (36) at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, on February 17th.

Ms Dunlea O’Brien’s body was found in an upstairs bedroom of her semi-detached house at about 6am on February 17th by firefighters after they spent several hours bringing a fire at the house under control.

Arrest

Det Garda Anthony Harrington gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that he arrested Mr Murphy at his home at Dan Desmond Villas in Passage West at 10.30pm on February 17th.

He said he brought Mr Murphy to Togher Garda station where he charged him in the morning with the offence.

Det Garda Harrington told the court that Mr Murphy made no reply to the single charge when it was put to him after caution.

Insp Finbarr O’Sullivan applied to Judge Leo Malone to have Mr Murphy remanded in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on Thursday by video link for the service of documents.

Judge Malone also granted Mr Murphy free legal aid after hearing he was not working. He also directed the prison services to carry out a psychiatric examination of Mr Murphy after defence solicitor Emmet Boyle said he had certain concerns about his client’s wellbeing.

Funeral arrangements

Mr Murphy was dressed in a blue and grey jumper and grey track pants. He simply nodded to confirm his identity during the hearing which lasted just three minutes.

Meanwhile, funeral arrangements have been confirmed for Ms Dunlea O’Brien. She will be buried today at St Catherine’s Cemetery in Kilcully following requiem Mass at 11am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballinlough in Cork city.

Ms Dunlea O’Brien, who was originally from Victoria Avenue in Ballinlough, is survived by her children, Aaron, Megan and Darragh and their father Adrian as well as by her parents, Jimmy and Ann and her sisters, Amanda and Anne.