A 16-YEAR-OLD boy charged with the murder of Dubliner Aidan O’Kane, who was shot dead near his home last month, was remanded on bail yesterday for 12 weeks pending the preparation of a book of evidence.
A widower and father of one, Mr O’Kane, a mechanic who was aged 50, died following a dispute near his home at Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin, on December 7th last.
He was fatally wounded in the stomach, in a laneway between Shelmalier Road and Bargy Road, not far from his house.
The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, was charged at the Children’s Court, Smithfield, Dublin, three days later.
On the boy’s first court appearance on December 10th last, Det Sgt Martin Connolly had said he arrested him at Store Street Garda station for the “offence of murder contrary to common law”.
He was then remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution, part of the Mountjoy Prison complex.
However, before Christmas he was granted High Court bail, after his sister was approved as an independent cash surety of €2,000.
Yesterday defence solicitor Sarah Molloy informed Judge Aingeal Ní Chonduin at the Children’s Court that the teenager had taken up his bail. Then she furnished the judge with a copy of the High Court order.
Det Sgt Connolly told Judge Ní Chonduin that he was seeking to have the case put back for 12 weeks. Ms Molloy said that this was “for a book of evidence”. Judge Ní Chonduin consented to Det Sgt Connolly’s application and also granted an extension of time for the book of evidence to be completed.
The teenager, who was accompanied to court by his father, remained silent during his brief appearance yesterday and was remanded on bail to appear again in April, subject to conditions which were not read out.