TWO MEN appeared in court yesterday charged with murder following the discovery of a body in a Co Kerry bog.
The remains of Bruno Lemes de Sousa (28), from Brazil, who had been missing since about February 17th, were found after a search by gardaí at the bog near Listowel on Sunday.
John Paul Cawley (19) and Wenio Rodrigues da Silva (28) appeared before Newcastle West District Court yesterday charged with murdering Mr de Sousa.
Det Garda Shane O’Driscoll told the court that he arrested Mr da Silva at 8.28am on Monday, March 12th, at Listowel Garda station.
He told the court that at 9.33pm on Monday he charged the Brazilian man with murder.
Insp Eamon O’Neill, of Askeaton Garda station, requested that Mr da Silva be remanded in custody.
Mr da Silva’s solicitor, Pat Enright, said Mr da Silva had been working as a part-time farm worker and was “not a man of means”.
Gardaí told the court that Mr Cawley was also arrested on Monday, and charged with murdering Mr de Sousa.
The two accused men, who have an address at Ardoughter, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, are charged with committing the murder on a date between February 16th, 2012, and March 10th, 2012, at Shronowen Bog, Tullamore, Listowel, Co Kerry.
Insp O’Neill requested that Mr Cawley also be remanded in custody.
His solicitor, Helena O’Carroll, told the court that her client “was previously in receipt of social welfare” but that currently he had “no income”. Ms O’Carroll applied to the court to ensure that Mr Cawley receives prescribed medication for epilepsy while in the custody of the State.
Judge Mary O’Halloran granted the application, and remanded both accused men in custody to appear before Kilmallock District Court, Co Limerick, on Friday next.
Mr de Sousa had been missing since about February 17th last. He had been in Ireland since 2005, and had been living in Gort, Co Galway.