A 46-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a Westmeath man who disappeared in 1987.
Colin Pinder was arrested by gardaí at Dublin airport on Thursday and brought to Mullingar Garda station where he was charged with the murder of Brendan Brian McGrath (43) at Lower Coole, Coole, Co Westmeath on a date between March 16th, 1987 and April 18th, 1987.
Det Insp Martin Cadden told Athlone District Court yesterday that the defendant, who lives in Liverpool had nothing to say when charged.
Mr Pinder, who has epilepsy,shook his head when asked if he had any medication with him.
Det Insp Cadden told the court that while the accused had no immediate medical needs, he had a medical report for the prison services regarding his medication. Judge John Neilan ordered that the report be delivered to prison authorities in a sealed envelope and that Mr Pinder be medically and psychiatrically assessed on his arrival at Cloverhill Prison.
There was no application for bail and the defendant was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on February 10th.
Father-of-four Brian McGrath was last seen at his home in March 1987 and an investigation into his whereabouts began in 1993 when a witness informed them of his death.
Bones were subsequently found in the garden of Mr McGrath’s home and there were indications that they had been burned although it was not possible to identify them.
A file was sent to the DPP at the time but no charges were preferred.
The body was exhumed in May of last year and following DNA analysis it was established that the bones belonged to Mr McGrath.