Four are charged with impeding probe of grandmother’s murder
TWO men and two women have been charged with impeding the Garda investigation into the murder of grandmother Patricia O’Connor.
Augustine O’Connor (74), his daughter Louise O’Connor (40), her daughter Stephanie O’Connor (20), and Keith Johnson (41) were brought before Tallaght District Court yesterday.
Detectives did not object to bail and Judge Patricia McNamara remanded the four accused on bail, subject to a number of strict conditions.
Mr O’Connor, with an address at Mill Close, Stamullen, Co Meath, as well as Stephanie O’Connor and Louise O’Connor, both with an address at Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, are charged with intent to impede an investigation.
The offence allegedly took place at Mountain View Park in Rathfarnham, Dublin, on May 29, 2017.
Mr Johnson, with an address at Avonbeg Gardens, in Tallaght, is also charged with impeding an investigation.
This offence allegedly took place at Woodie’s DIY in Tallaght, Dublin, and at various other locations on June 9, 2017.
Yesterday, at Tallaght court, Detective Sergeant Barry Turner and Sergeant Kieron O’Neill said the four were arrested at Tallaght garda station between 9am and 10am and were subsequently charged and cautioned.
The sergeants said the accused were each handed a true copy of the charge sheet and they made no reply to the charge after caution.
Sgt Turner said DPP’s directions were available on the charges and the DPP had directed trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court on the charges.
The sergeant said there were no objections to bail, subject to conditions.
The matter was adjourned briefly to allow the State to clarify if the judge could grant bail in a charge of impeding a murder investigation. When the matter was recalled, detectives said the judge had the power to grant bail in such matters.
Sgt Turner also said gardaí had no objection to the four accused being granted bail.
Judge McNamara remanded the accused on bail in their own bonds of €200.
As part of their bail conditions, the four must sign on at their local Garda stations three days a week. They also undertook to surrender their passports and not to apply for new documentation and provide gardaí with a contact number.
The court heard Augustine O’Connor was a pensioner and defence solicitor Cahir O’Higgins was assigned on free legal aid.
Louise O’Connor, a mother of four, and her daughter Stephanie O’Connor were currently living in emergency accommodation, gardaí said, and defence solicitor Padraig O’Donovan was assigned on legal aid to represent them.
Judge McNamara adjourned the four cases for six weeks to a date in November to allow the State to prepare the book of evidence.
The accused have not yet indicated how they are pleading to the charges.