The trial of a 19-year-old man accused of murdering his sister is to be delayed to allow for the preparation of psychiatric reports, it emerged today.
Patrick O'Dwyer, from Ennistymon, County Clare was due to stand trial in the Central Criminal Court on June 14 for the murder at his family home.
But the court heard today that the psychiatric report would not be available by then. Lawyers for O'Dwyer said the consultant psychiatrist who had attended him at the Central Mental Hospital believed it to be a very complex case and that further tests needed to be carried out.
Mr O'Dwyer is currently being held in St Patrick's Institution for Young Offenders. Judge Paul Carney said the court was particularly concerned about the families of the victims of violent death, who were often not consulted about trial adjournments.
"It so happens in this case that the family of the victim and the family of the accused are one and the same people," he said.
He was told that the O'Dwyer family were anxious that their son get the appropriate tests before the trial.
Judge Carney said he expected to be furnished with further information on June 14th and would then set a date for the case to be tried at Central Criminal Court in Ennis, Limerick, Cork or Galway.
PA