Teen in court to face park murder charge
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy charged with murdering homeless man Adam Muldoon has been remanded in custody, with an order that he get ‘urgent psychiatric attention’.
Mr Muldoon, 23, who had cerebral palsy, was found brutally stabbed to death at 6.30am on Saturday at Butler Park in Tallaght, Dublin. His body was later removed to the city morgue at Whitehall where a post-mortem was carried out.
The Tallaght youth accused of his murder was arrested at the weekend and brought before Judge John O’Connor at the Dublin Children’s Court yesterday morning. He cannot be identified because he is a minor.
Dressed in a white T-shirt, grey bottoms and grey runners, the youth sat back with his arms folded as evidence was given by Detective Garda Nuala Burke of Rathfarnham station. She said that in reply to the murder charge, the teenager said: ‘No.’
Due to the nature of the charge, the Children’s Court cannot grant bail, meaning an application for this would have to be made in the High Court.
The boy, who did not address the court, was accompanied to the proceedings by his visibly upset grandparents.
Judge O’Connor asked defence solicitor Michael Hennessy if medical attention was required for the teenage defendant.
‘I have deep concerns about my client’s psychiatric wellbeing. I would ask for a direction for urgent psychiatric attention on arrival at the place of detention,’ Mr Hennessy said.
Judge O’Connor acceded to that request, and remanded the boy in custody to the Oberstown detention centre. The teenager will face his next hearing at Tallaght Children’s Court on Friday.