A 19-year-old man was last night remanded in custody charged with the murder of the nun found dead in the grounds of her convent in Ballybay, Co Monaghan, last Saturday.
Mr Kealen Herron, Derry, Latton, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, appeared before a special sitting of Carrickmacross District Court shortly after 7 p.m.
He was charged that on Saturday last at Derrynalobinagh, Ballybay, he murdered Sister Philomena Lyons (68). Mr Herron sat flanked by detectives with his head bowed and hands crossed during the short hearing.
Det Insp Hugh Coll gave evidence of arresting Mr Herron at 6.15 a.m. yesterday at his home in Castleblayney, about five miles from Ballybay, under section 4 (3) of the Criminal Law Act, 1987, for the murder of Sister Philomena.
He brought him to Monaghan Garda station where he was cautioned and charged. Mr Herron made no reply to the charge, he said. He was handed a copy of the charge.
A solicitor for Mr Herron, Mr Barry Healy, made an application for free legal aid. He said Mr Herron was unemployed but in the past had done part-time work. Judge Flann Brennan granted the application.
Det Insp Tadhg Foley asked the judge to remand him in custody. Judge Brennan granted the application and remanded Mr Herron in custody to Drogheda District Court tomorrow at 10 a.m.
A large crowd gathered outside the court as Mr Herron was taken to and from the hearing with his head covered. They booed and jeered as he was taken away to St Patrick's detention centre in Dublin, where he will be held.