SCENE A view of the house at Pheasanthill, Castlebar where the body of John Brogan was discovered on Sunday evening. Pic: Conor McKeown
Anton McNulty
A Castlebar man has appeared before court charged with the murder of 82-year-old John Brogan.
Kevin McHale of Annagh, Castlebar was brought before Judge Fiona Lydon in Castlebar District Court this afternoon after he was arrested and charged with the murder of John Brogan at his home at Pheasanthill, Castlebar on Sunday evening.
The body of Mr Brogan was discovered with gunshot wounds after emergency services were called to a fire at his home on Sunday evening.
Mr McHale was brought into the courtroom at around 12.20pm accompanied by a number of gardaí and his solicitor Gary Mulchrone.
Detective Sergeant Michael Doherty told the court that he arrested Mr McHale this morning at 11.12am at Castlebar Garda Station for the purpose of charging him. He explained he charged Mr McHale with the murder of John Brogan at 11.43am. The accused he said made no reply following the charge. He applied for Mr McHale to be remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court this Friday at 10.30am.
There was no objection to the remand in custody and Mr Mulchrone asked for his client to receive necessary medical attention including a psychiatric assessment while in custody.
He added his client is in receipt of social welfare and there was no objection from the gardaí to the application for legal aid.
Judge Lydon remanded Mr McHale in custody to appear before Harristown District Court on Friday and recommended that he receive medical intervention including a psychiatric assessment in custody. Mr McHale made no comment while in court and stood beside his solicitor during the short court hearing.
He remained in the body of the court for a brief period after the hearing before he was led away by gardaí.