A man charged with the murder of nurse Sara Neligan in Dublin last month has appeared in court in connection with a knife attack in Co Wicklow 18 months ago.
Brian MacBarron (25) with an address at Wintergarden Apartments, Pearse Street, Dublin, and originally from Arklow, Co Wicklow, appeared before Bray District Court yesterday.
Judge Michael O'Shea was told MacBarron had been convicted of an assault in 2005 for which he received a suspended prison sentence. On that occasion Judge Pat McCartan said the case would be re-entered for sentencing if MacBarron came to the attention of gardaí again.
The court was told MacBarron was now in custody on serious charges, namely Ms Neligan's murder, and that the earlier case was being re-entered.
The earlier matter related to an incident on Arklow's main street in which a man sustained a knife wound during an assault. MacBarron was convicted of serious bodily harm after pleading guilty. Gabriel Haughton BL, for MacBarron, yesterday told the judge his client would be remaining in custody for the foreseeable future. The matter was listed for mention again on an unspecified date in December.
MacBarron was in court yesterday but did not speak during the brief hearing.
On June 16th he appeared before Dublin District Court where he was charged with the murder of Ms Neligan, a 31-year-old nurse. Ms Neligan was the daughter of well-known retired consultant cardiac surgeon Maurice Neligan. She had most recently worked in Dublin's Mater hospital. Her body was discovered at the Wintergarden apartment complex after friends alerted the Garda after they had not seen her for a number of days. She was stabbed a number of times, the court was told on June 16th.
MacBarron was arrested at 10.40pm on Friday, June 15th, in the apartment complex.
Det Sgt Brian Duffy told the court that when MacBarron was charged with Ms Neligan's murder he replied: "I am sorry for what I have done". Judge John Coughlan granted an application to have McBarron medically and psychologically assessed. MacBarron was remanded in custody.