‘He was my dad and I love him very much,’ says murder accused
A MAN accused of murdering his father told gardaí: “He was my dad and I love him very much. I would have done anything for him.”
David Fortune (31) gave the response when charged with murdering his father Gerard Fortune (63), who was found stabbed at their home in Dublin on Sunday night.
He was remanded in custody for a week when he appeared in Dublin District Court yesterday afternoon.
David Fortune, also known as David O’Leary, is charged with murdering his father, a hospital care worker, at their home at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, Dublin on August 19.
Garda Sergeant Brendan O’Halloran told Judge Mary Dorgan he arrested the accused at Crumlin garda station for the purpose of charge at 12.52am yesterday “for the offence of murder of Gerard Fortune”.
Harm
The accused made no reply when he was cautioned that he was not obliged to say anything.
At 1.55am, he was charged in Sgt O’Halloran’s presence and handed a copy of the charge sheet.
In reply to the charge, he said: “I never meant to harm anyone. He was my dad and I love him very much. I would have done anything for him.”
Sgt O’Halloran said the accused used both surnames.
Defence solicitor Brian Co- veney said, given the nature of the charge, he was making no application for bail on his client’s behalf. Bail can only be granted in the High Court on a murder charge.
He was consenting to the defendant being remanded in custody for a week.
Judge Dorgan granted free legal aid after Mr Coveney made an application and handed a statement of the accused’s financial means in to court.
The accused was not working and there was no Garda objection to legal aid.
She remanded Mr Fortune in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday, August 28.
The accused, wearing a red Adidas T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms and black runners, did not address the court during the brief hearing.
Weeping
He appeared visibly distressed as he sat through the proceedings and gestured towards weeping family members in the public gallery as he left the court.
Gardaí and emergency services were called to the house at around 8pm on Sunday.
Gerard Fortune had suffered a stab wound and was removed by ambulance to St James’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The accused man appeared visibly distressed and gestured to weeping family members