Shortall murder accused further remanded in custody

A 38-year-old man charged with the murder of Anne Shortall in Co Wicklow has been further remanded in custody pending the preparation of a book of evidence.

Roy Webster, with an address at Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, appeared at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. It was his sixth court appearance having been charged in April over the death of the mother of three.

Judge Victor Blake further remanded him in continuing custody for another three weeks.

Anne Shortall was last seen alive in Wicklow Town on April 3rd, 2015.

The 47-year-old's body was discovered April 7th under tarpaulin in a shed beside a house a few miles outside Killoughter, Co Wicklow.

Ms Shortall, who lived in an apartment in Wicklow Town, had suffered serious injuries and State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a post mortem at St Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown in Dublin.

Tradesman Mr Webster had been arrested in connection with the mother-of-three’s death and was questioned in Wicklow Garda Station where he was charged with murdering Ms Shortall on April 3rd last.

At an his first hearing in Bray District Court, on April 9th, Detective Sergeant Fergus O’Brien gave evidence of the arrest and said Mr Webster made no reply when cautioned and charged.

The district court had made a recommendation that he be psychologically assessed while on remand in prison.

Due to the nature of the charge, bail can only be considered by the High Court.