The young man charged with murdering his 18-month-old nephew in Drogheda, Co Louth, had been referred by his doctor to a psychiatric hospital on the day of the killing, Ballybay District Court heard yesterday.
Mr David Brennan (18), of Marsh Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, was before the court, charged with the murder of Jack Everitt Brennan, between 7.30 p.m. on February 29th and 12.10 p.m. on March 1st, at Marsh Road, Lagavoreen, Drogheda.
His solicitor, Mr Paul Moore, told the court that Mr Brennan had been on medication for the past couple of weeks. On the day of the incident, he had been referred by letter by his GP to St Brigid's Hospital, Ardee, Mr Moore said.
Mr Brennan was in court for almost 45 minutes. He arrived at 11 a.m., emerging from one of two unmarked Garda cars, which pulled up outside the Co Monaghan courthouse.
The officer who made the arrest, Garda John Yorke, of Drogheda station, told the court that Mr Brennan was arrested at 1.24 p.m. on Wednesday at his home, where his nephew and the baby's mother also lived.
Mr Brennan was then taken to Drogheda Garda station, where he was charged at 11.37 p.m.
Garda Yorke said that he had read the charges to Mr Brennan, cautioned him and informed him that anything he said could be taken down and used in evidence, to which Mr Brennan had replied: "Yeah".
Judge Flann Brennan asked the defendant if he was legally represented. Mr Brennan stood up and told the court that he had spoken to Mr Moore on Wednesday.
The solicitor had been delayed in getting to the court yesterday as he had earlier attending the Circuit Court in Dundalk.
When Mr Moore arrived, at about 11.20 a.m., he spoke for a few moments with the defendant and then made a request to the court for legal aid.
Mr Moore also asked to see any statements which had been taken, as soon as the gardai could make them available. The judge said he was entitled to these as a matter of course.
Mr Moore then made a request for the defendant to be assessed by a psychiatrist to see if he could give full and proper instructions to the solicitor.
Judge Brennan ordered medical and psychiatric assessments and reports, and granted legal aid.
Mr Brennan was remanded in custody to appear at Drogheda District Court at 10 a.m. today.
He remained in court for a further 20 minutes as warrants to lodge him in jail were drawn up.
He was taken away by car to spend the night in Mountjoy Prison.
