Postal worker charged with murders

A MAN has been charged with the murder of two children at their home in Roscon, Windgap, Co Kilkenny, last Christmas.

Postal worker Brian Hennessy (23) from Co Kilkenny was charged yesterday with the murder of Zsarah Weeks Whelan (7) and Nadia Whelan (2) on December 24th or 25th last.

Gardaí gave evidence of charging Mr Hennessy at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin at 10.10am yesterday.

After each charge was read out, Mr Hennessy replied that he had nothing to say, according to the Garda witness, who also said the book of evidence had now been served.

Judge Brian Sheridan sent Mr Hennessy forward for trial to the next available sitting of the Central Criminal Court and remanded him in custody on consent to Cloverhill Prison.

Mr Hennessy is also facing a murder charge arising out of the death of the children’s mother, Sharon Whelan, who was also found dead with her two young daughters in their fire-damaged home.

In addition to the three murder charges, Mr Hennessy is charged with two counts of criminal damage to a property and with endangering the lives of the children.

The three were found dead in their home at Roscon near Windgap, Co Kilkenny, on Christmas morning after neighbours had spotted smoke coming from their rented farmhouse at about 8.30am.