A man has been charged with the murder of his father, mother and brother in a chilling family tragedy.
Robert O’Connor, 31, from Drumgowna, Louth Village, stands accused of the murder of his father Mark, 54, his mother Louise, 56, and brother Evan, 27, on Monday, September 29 at their village home. The bodies were discovered around 10am that Monday.
O’Connor appeared before Judge Stephanie Coggans at a special session of Drogheda District Court on Tuesday evening, facing three counts of murder.
Garda (Irish Police) Sane O’Malley of Drogheda Garda Station provided evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning O’Connor on three counts of murder. The news comes as mum discovers dad and daughter dead in suspected murder-suicide.
O’Malley stated that O’Connor was arrested at 4:43pm at Drogheda Garda Station on three counts of murder. He cautioned the accused who made ‘no reply’.
Paul James Moore, O’Connor’s solicitor, requested a psychiatric assessment, noting that the accused has been involved with mental health services since he was 22. Judge Coggans ordered a psychiatric evaluation and granted Mr Moore legal aid to include one counsel on all sheets, reports the Mirror.
O’Connor did not apply for bail as the District Court does not conduct bail hearings for those charged with murder. Bail hearings for murder charges can only be heard before the High Court.
He was held in custody to appear before Drogheda District Court via video link at 10:30am on Monday, October 6. O’Connor, donned in a grey top and black tracksuit bottoms, remained silent during the brief hearing.
His brother Cian, along with the family’s garda liaison officer, attended the court proceedings.
