A woman has appeared in court and been remanded in custody after she was accused of withholding information from gardaí investigating last week’s murder of Gareth Hutch in Dublin.
Mr Hutch (35), a father-of-one, was shot dead as he was getting into his car outside Avondale House flats,where he lived, on North Cumberland Street in inner city Dublin on the morning of May 24th.
Mary McDonnell (44), who was originally arrested last week, and with an address at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, is charged with failing without reasonable excuse to disclose to gardaí, as soon as was practicable, information which she knew or believed might be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of any other person for a serious offence.
The charge is under Section 9 of the Offences Against the State Act, and the offence is alleged to have happened at another address at Avondale House on May 24th last.
Dressed in a black and white striped top and black trousers, Ms McDonnell was brought to appear before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court on Tuesday morning. She remained silent throughout the brief hearing. No application for bail was made and she was remanded in custody to appear again on June 7th.
‘Made no reply’
Garda Sgt Enda O’Sullivan told the court he arrested Ms McDonnell at 6.21pm on Monday at the Bridewell Garda station for the purpose of charging. She was charged at 6.52pm and “made no reply to the charge after caution” before she was handed a copy of the charge sheet, he said.
Sgt O’Sullivan said he was applying for her to be remanded in custody. Judge Halpin asked whether there was going to be a bail application and defence solicitor Philip Hannon said: “We are reserving our position in relation to bail, no application at this time.”
Judge Halpin was also told directions from the DPP have not yet been obtained. The woman has not yet indicated how she will plead.
Judge Halpin remanded her in custody to appear again on June 7th and acceded to a request from the defence solicitor to direct that she would get medical attention.
Mr Hannon furnished the court with a statement of her means for the purpose of a legal aid application, adding “it’s an appropriate case”.
Sgt O’Sullivan said there was no objection.
Judge Halpin granted free legal aid.