MAN CHARGED WITH STAB MURDER IN PUB
Distressed victim’s mother leaves court after outburst
A MAN was charged yesterday with the stab murder of another man in a crowded bar last weekend.
Mark Crawford appeared before Limerick District Court accused of killing 24-year-old Patrick “Pa” O’connor in the city.
The dead man’s mother shouted at the 41-year-old during his brief appearance.
Crawford, with an address at Distillery View, Thomondgate, is charged with Mr O’connor’s murder last Saturday.
He was stabbed several times in the upper body at Fitzgerald’s Bar on Sexton Street North and died from his injuries in the early hours of Sunday at Limerick Hospital. Det Gda Tommy Griffin told the court that when Crawford was charged he “made no reply”. After an outburst from the victim’s distressed mother, she was led away by relatives.
Other family members wept throughout the proceedings.
Det Gda Griffin told the court he arrested Crawford at Henry Street Garda station at 9.18pm on
Tuesday and charged him with Mr O’connor’s murder 9.29pm.
The accused’s solicitor Sarah Ryan said she had no questions about the arrest and cautioning of her client.
Sgt Donal Cronin of Henry Street Garda station applied for the murder accused to be remanded in custody to next Tuesday “for the purposes of obtaining DPP directions”.
Crawford wore a grey and Patrick O’connor at black Adidas tracksuit not speak during hearing.
Judge Marian O’leary remanded him in custody to appear before Limerick District Court again next Tuesday.
Any application for bail will have to be made to the High Court in Dublin as the District Court does not have jurisdiction to rule in murder cases.
As he was led away Crawford acknowledged members of his family with a wave.
Mr O’connor will be laid to rest tomorrow at Mount St Oliver Cemetery after Requiem Mass at St Munchin’s Church. and did the brief