Son charged with mother’s murder in Co Kerry

Anne Lucey

A man has appeared before the District Court in Killarney, Co Kerry charged with the murder of his mother at their rural home near Listowel.

Patrick Dunne (20) of Ballingearagh, Lixnaw is charged that he did murder Susan Dunne at Ballingearagh on November 27th last.

Arresting officer Detective Sergeant John Heaslip told the court he had formally arrested and afterwards charged Patrick at Listowel Garda station on Thursday night. The accused made no reply to the arrest, charge and caution.

The State’s application was to remand the accused in custody to St Patrick’s Institution to appear again in Listowel next Wednesday, Listowel Garda Supt William Leahy said.

Listowel solicitor Patrick Enright said he was making no bail application but was putting the State on notice that he would be doing so.,

The solicitor said he had been in touch with the HSE regarding provisional services to meet his client’s needs if he is released on bail.

He was asking that his medical needs be met and “particularly for special cognisance” given to the particular needs of this young man.

Applying for a legal aid certificate, Mr Enright said the young man was on disability payment.

Judge Olann Kelleher granted the legal aid certificate, the medical attention requested and remanded Patrick Dunne to St Patrick's Institution to appear again at Listowel District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Enright indicated he was in agreement with the remand to Listowel.

Patrick Dunne sat in the dock alongside a plain-clothes female garda. He was brought into court from LIstowel in an unmarked car and handcuffed to the female garda as he left the court.

Members of the Kerry Autism Action Group were in the public area of the court.

The dead woman, who was originally from the UK and had moved to Kildare some years ago and and had been living in the Kerry area for two years was chairperson of the group and was very involved with a number of disabilities organisations.

The accused’s father William Dunne was also in the public area of the court.

Members of the autism group who know the accused as well as his mother met briefly with him before he was led away.