Woman and man charged with murder

A MAN and a woman were last night remanded in custody after they were charged with the murder of a 27-year-old father of one whose body was found in a river in Bandon, west Cork.

Ciprian Grozavu (37) a Romanian national, and Katherine O’Connor (35), were both charged at a special sitting of Bandon District Court with the murder of Jonathan Duke, of Deerpark, Bandon, at Bandon Bridge House, Sean Hales Place, Bandon, on Sunday.

Mr Duke’s body was discovered just downstream of Bandon Bridge early on Monday morning.

There were angry scenes outside the court where a crowd of 300 to 400 people had gathered up to an hour before the special sitting and shouted abuse as the two accused arrived.

In court, Det Garda Mike Brosnan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Ms O’Connor and told the court she replied “No” when the charge was put to her after caution.

Garda Kieran Murphy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Grozavu and told the court he replied “I didn’t do it” when the charge was put to him after caution.

Solicitor for Ms O’Connor, Eddie Burke, said his client had been on disability benefit for a number of years and asked that she be provided with medication when in prison.

He asked Judge James McNulty to request the authorities at Limerick Prison to have her psychiatrically assessed as she had suffered from psychiatric issues for a number of years.

Mr Burke applied for free legal aid for his client, as did Mr Grozavu’s solicitor, Macaire Adams, who said her client was in receipt of unemployment assistance and was a man of modest means.

Supt Eddie Mac Eoin applied to have both remanded in custody to appear again at Bandon District Court next Monday at 2pm, and Judge McNulty remanded both in custody to that date.

Judge McNulty noted the applications for free legal aid by solicitors for both accused and said he accepted both were suitable cases for such aid and granted it to both accused. Dressed in a black dress, boots and leggings, Ms O’Connor, who has a tattoo of a cross on her cheek, spoke briefly to family members who were in court for the hearing. Mr Grozavu, who was wearing a black jumper and jeans, did not speak during the hearing, which was also attended by the mother of the deceased, Michelle, and two of his sisters.