Man charged with Waterford death

A 45-year-old man was remanded on bail tonight after he was charged in connection with the death of his 83-year-old mother at…

A 45-year-old man was remanded on bail tonight after he was charged in connection with the death of his 83-year-old mother at a nursing home in Co Waterford yesterday.

Gerard Vollrath, a father of one, was brought before a special sitting of Waterford District Court and charged with the manslaughter of his mother, Veronica (Vera) Vollrath at Killure Bridge Nursing Home.

Garda Maureen Neary gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court how Mr Vollrath replied 'No comment' when the single charge was put to him after caution.

Supt Chris Delaney said that gardai had no objection to Mr Vollrath obtaining bail once certain conditions and he asked that if those conditions were met that Mr Vollrath be remanded to appear again at Waterford District Court next Tuesday.

Defence solicitor, Fionnuala Cronin said that her client was agreeable to the conditions and Judge David Kennedy remanded Mr Vollrath on bail on his own bond of €9000 and an independent surety of €5,000.

And he made it a condition of Mr Vollrath's bail that he surrender his passport, agree not to apply for any other travel documents and agree to reside at a certain address in Waterford which was not disclosed to the court.

He also made a condition of Mr Vollrath's bail that he sign on daily at Waterford Garda Station in Ballybricken between 9am and 9pm.

Mr Vollrath was arrested at Dublin Airport yesterday afternoon.

Gardaí were alerted at about 5.30am yesterday when a daughter of the dead woman rang them to say Mr Vollrath had informed the family that he had suffocated his mother.