A murder suspect who breached a number of bail conditions over the Christmas period was returned to prison last week.
Mr Justice O Caoimh remanded Mr Richard O'Carroll (30), of Southern Cross, Bray, Co Wicklow in custody after hearing that he had failed to sign on at his local Garda station and reside at his home address.
Mr O'Carroll has been charged with the murder of Mr Keith Fortune (28), also from Bray, who was stabbed to death at the William Dargan public house in Bray on May 2nd last.
Mr Joseph Barnes, counsel for the DPP, told the court Mr O'Carroll had been arrested shortly after his bail had been revoked. Mr Feargal Kavanagh, counsel for Mr O'Carroll, said his client had failed to sign on because of his participation in a number of festive social events.
Mr Justice O Caoimh heard that the accused man had failed to sign on at the Garda station on at least 20 occasions between August 1st and December 5th and no Garda action had been taken against him.
A warrant for his arrest had been sought on Thursday last when it was learned he had failed to sign on from December 21st. Mr Justice O Caoimh said he could not but be critical of the attitude of the gardai towards earlier breaches.
He said he would return Mr O'Carroll in custody to Mountjoy. The judge said he would not preclude Mr O'Carroll from making a fresh application for bail at a later stage.