Care request by murder accused

A student accused of murdering mother-of-three Irene White has asked to be put back under ‘vulnerable care’ while he is in custody.

Anthony Lambe (34) is charged with murdering Ms White (43), who was stabbed to death in Dundalk in 2005.

While in prison awaiting trial, he has been taken off protective custody and wants it reinstated, his lawyer told a court on Friday.

However, Judge Kathryn Hutton ruled it was a matter for the prison authorities and further adjourned the case at Cloverhill District Court, for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Mr Lambe, from Annadrumman, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan first appeared in court in Dundalk when he was arrested and charged last month.

He is charged with the murder of Irene White on the April 6, 2005 at Ice House, Demesne Road, Dundalk.

Garda Sergeant Stephen Nalty told Cloverhill District Court on Friday that the prosecution was applying for a further remand in custody, for the DPP’s directions to be made available.

Mr Lambe’s barrister said the accused was consenting to a four-week adjournment.

She added that she understood Mr Lambe had been in protective custody but he now said he was ‘no longer in protective custody’.

She asked the judge if she could make an application that day to have him placed back in protective custody.

A prison officer told the court the accused was still in protective custody.

‘I was instructed otherwise by Mr Lambe’, the defence barrister said. She then consulted the accused, who wore a red jumper and grey tracksuit bottoms and stood with his hands in his pockets as he spoke to her.

The barrister then told the judge Mr Lambe had been in ‘vulnerable care’ but had been taken off that.

Judge Hutton asked if this application should not be taken to the governor of Cloverhill prison. Sgt Nalty said it should.

Judge Hutton adjourned the case to March 9. The accused did not otherwise address the court during the brief hearing.

When Mr Lambe was first brought before Dundalk District Court last month, Garda Inspector Pat Marry gave evidence that the accused said ‘ I’m very sorry’ in reply to the charge after caution.

His solicitor asked at that stage that he get protective custody. Detective Inspector Pat Marry said that he maybe a vulnerable person.

He was granted protective custody and legal aid by the presiding judge.

Irene White was stabbed to death in the house where she lived with her family beside Ice House Hill Park in Dundalk 12 years ago.

Her mother, Maureen McBride, found her lying dead in the kitchen when she called to the house at around 12.30pm that day.