A DISTRAUGHT grandmother confronted a man charged with a quadruple murder when he appeared in court in Co Limerick yesterday.
There were emotional scenes inside Newcastle West District Court when Abina Hines came face to face for the first time with the man accused of killing her daughter and two young grandchildren.
John Geary with an address at Meadow Court, Newcastle West, but originally from Milford Co Cork, is charged with the murder of Sarah Hines (25), Amy Hines (5 months), Reece Hines (3) and Alicia Brough (20) at Hazelgrove, Gortboy, Newcastle West, Co Limerick on November 15th last.
The 31-year-old was excused from previous court sittings after he was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.
Yesterday as he was being led out of a packed courtroom by armed gardaí, Abina Hines shouted at Mr Geary in condemnation.
It was the first time that the grandmother attended court since Mr Geary was charged with the four murders on November 20th last.
Alicia Brough’s parents, Maria and Paul Dempsey were also present in court yesterday, along with Sarah Hines’s stepfather Peter Rolfe.
Last month, when the case was called, Judge Mary O’Halloran was told the accused was medically unfit to attend court.
Before that the court was informed the 31-year-old was a patient at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.
Wearing a black hooded top, white t-shirt and black tracksuit pants, Mr Geary remained silent for yesterday’s brief hearing.
Supt Dan Flavin applied for the accused to be further remanded in custody until February 1st.
Solicitor John Herbert made no objection to the request, which was granted by Judge O’Halloran.
The judge noted the same application was being made in respect of all four charges before the court.