A 19-year-old Co Cavan man was remanded in custody at a special sitting of the District Court in Monaghan yesterday arising from an incident which led to the death of his father at the family residence early on Sunday last.
Séamus Fitzgerald was charged with assault and recklessly, or intentionally, causing serious harm to his father, Jim Fitzgerald, at Lisgar, near Bailieboro, Co Cavan.
Insp Pat McMorrow, Monaghan Garda station, told Judge Seán MacBride that more serious charges were likely to follow. The judge refused an application by the accused's lawyer, Niall Dolan, for bail, and agreed at the request of the gardaí to recommend an urgent psychiatric assessment of the accused, whom he remanded in custody to a further sitting next Friday.
Garda Peter O'Sullivan, Bailieboro Garda station, told the court he travelled to Navan to meet the accused following the incident at the family residence, but it took considerable time and a number of mobile telephone conversations before he was able to arrest him.
After Insp McMorrow objected to bail, Garda O'Sullivan said that when arrested, Mr Fitzgerald had €3,500 as well as his passport with him. In a further reply to Insp McMorrow, the garda said the accused had indicated his intention that day was to take a bus from Navan to Dublin in the early morning, but there was no service operating.
Mr Fitzgerald's solicitor, Niall Dolan, said that from the accused's subsequent willingness to meet the garda, it was obvious he had not decided to go away.
He said the accused would also be willing, if he got bail, to find a new address, as it was accepted he could no longer return home, but would be willing to present himself as frequently as might be required to the gardaí.
Judge MacBride said he was refusing bail on three grounds: the gravity of the charge; the likelihood of the accused absconding and the fact that he had no longer a fixed place of abode.
The judge remanded the accused in custody and recommended an urgent psychiatric assessment.
During the 20-minute hearing the accused sat bent for most of the time, with his head in his hands, and only looked up occasionally at the judge.
Members of his family and other residents from the Bailieboro area were in the public gallery .
The accused's late father, Jim Fitzgerald, was a well-known businessman in the area and had a filling station. He died last Sunday morning.