Man accused of body parts dumping kept in custody

A MAN who told gardai ‘it was self-defence’ when he was charged with the murder of a Dublin grandmother has been further remanded in custody.

Kieran Green (32) is alleged to have murdered Patricia O’Connor at the family home in south Dublin. He is the partner of Ms O’Connor’s daughter. Ms O’Connor’s dismembered remains were found scattered across a 30km area of the Wicklow mountains in June. It is alleged that she was killed at the end of May.

Green, with an address at Mountain View Park in Churchtown, is charged with the murder of Ms O’Connor at the family home at a time unknown between May 29 and May 30.

Detective Garda David Connolly previously said that when charged with murder, Mr Green replied: ‘It was self-defence.’

The accused made his fourth appearance on the charge when he appeared via video-link at Cloverhill District Court last week.

Green only spoke to confirm his name and that he could see and hear the court.

Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions have been sought in relation to the murder charge.

Judge Kathryn Hutton further remanded Green in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on a date in September.

Ms O’Connor, a mother-of-two and a grandmother, worked as a chef in a south Dublin hospital. She was first reported missing on June 2, but at the time her disappearance was not considered suspicious.

Nine separate body parts were found scattered in a 30 km area across the Wicklow Mountains, including a head and arms in a plastic bag.

A family initially discovered the torso in a plastic bag near Military Road and a major garda investigation was launched.