Man appears in court over death of Kilrush woman

A man from a west Clare village was yesterday charged in connection with the death of Kilrush woman Anne Walsh (23).

At a special sitting of Kilrush District Court, Raymond Donovan (23), New Houses, Cooraclare, appeared after being charged with intentionally or recklessly causing harm to Ms Walsh in Toler Street, Kilrush, last Wednesday contrary to section 4 of the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

í found Ms Walsh's body in the grounds of St Senan's Church, Toler Street.

In evidence yesterday, Garda Michael Ryan of Kilrush station told the court that he had arrested Mr Donovan at 11.15pm on Wednesday in Toler Street and brought him to the station.

Garda Ryan told the court that on Thursday, he charged Mr Donovan with causing Ms Walsh serious harm.

In response to the charge, the accused man replied: "No." Mr Donovan had a number of minor facial injuries and sat in court flanked by two gardaí.

His mother and two sisters had travelled the six miles from Cooraclare to sit behind him in court during the five-minute hearing, while members of Ms Walsh's family were also present in the courtroom.

An application for legal aid for Mr Donovan was granted by Judge Leo Malone after his solicitor, Tara Godfrey, told the court her client was in receipt of a disability allowance.

Supt Joe McKeown, Kilrush, applied that Mr Donovan be remanded in custody until Monday to appear at Ennis District Court.

In response, Ms Godfrey said she would not be making any application for bail at this stage, but was applying for psychiatric intervention for Mr Donovan.

Ms Godfrey told the court Mr Donovan has received psychiatric treatment in the past in the mid-west and Co Mayo.

Ms Godfrey made an application that Mr Donovan be remanded to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, Dublin, rather than Limerick prison.

She told the court: "My client may have difficulties accessing psychiatric services in Limerick as the prison may be unable to provide such a service there.

"That is why I am asking that Mr Donovan be remanded to the Central Mental Hospital to be assessed."

However, Supt McKeown stated that the court couldn't remand Mr Donovan to Dundrum and Judge Malone agreed with him.

Instead, Judge Malone directed that a psychiatric examination be carried out on the accused man in Limerick.

He remanded him in custody to reappear before the court in Ennis on Monday.

As Mr Donovan was about to be led away, gardaí were forced to restrain a sister of Ms Walsh as she verbally abused the accused man and his mother.