A special session of the Killarney District Court, held on Saturday evening, saw a man of 41 years of age standing trial, accused of murdering his sibling. Fergus O’Connor, a resident of Scartaglin’s The Village in County Kerry, has been accused of killing his 42-year-old brother, Padraig O’Connor, in Castleisland’s An Caisleán Mór on the 28th of June, 2024. This is a breach of Common Law.
Det Sgt Ernie Henderson, providing testimony at the insistence of Inspector Eoin O’Donovan, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), detailed the accused’s arrest, charge, and caution at Tralee Garda station that very Saturday afternoon. Fergus O’Connor chose not to respond to his charge after being cautioned, as said by Det Sgt Henderson.
The accused’s solicitor, Padraig O’Connell, didn’t interrogate the legal process. Judge Joanne Carroll explained she didn’t possess the authority to grant bail and decided to keep the accused in custody. Fergus O’Connor, represented by Mr O’Connell, will be seeking bail in the High Court next Thursday.
While Mr O’Connell abstained from discussing specifics in open court, he did request that his client receive the necessary medical care he requires. Judge Carroll ordered Fergus O’Connor be given the adequate medical treatment and any prescribed medication he required during his incarceration.
The accused, currently on disability, had applied for legal aid through Mr O’Connell. The case alleged fratricide, but Mr O’Connell emphasized that his client insists the act was in self-defence. “He absolutely denies the murder accusation,” said Mr O’Connell.
Judge Carroll took note of Fergus O’Connor’s intention to plead self-defence. She ordered Fergus O’Connor to be remanded in custody to Cork Prison, and it is expected that he will make his next court appearance via a video link from the prison on Wednesday, the 3rd of July, at Tralee District Court.