A Co Down waiter has been remanded in custody in connection with the fire on Inisbofin island, Co Galway, in which three elderly sisters died early last Tuesday.
Mr Alan Murphy (25), from Newcastle, Co Down, with an address at Market Street, Clifden, was charged with manslaughter and arson at a special sitting yesterday evening of Clifden District Court. Mr Murphy, who was detained on Inisbofin on Wednesday evening and brought to Clifden for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, was charged with the manslaughter of Mrs Eileen Coyne (82) at her home at Middle Quarter, Inisbofin. He was also charged with arson at Mrs Coyne's house. Det Insp Paul Hargadon told the court that in reply to the manslaughter charge, Mr Murphy replied: "I wish I could change it, but I can't. I'm sorry." In reply to the arson charge, he said: "I'm sorry."
Supt Michael Curley of Clifden Garda station told Judge Dan Shields he wished to have the defendant remanded in custody. He had no permanent address in the jurisdiction and had spent six of the last eight years outside Ireland. There was the possibility of much more serious charges to follow.
His application was not opposed by the defence solicitor, Mr Adrian McLynn, and Judge Shields remanded Mr Murphy in custody to Galway District Court next Monday.
Mr McLynn asked that medical treatment be made available to his client, including treatment for alcoholism.
An application for legal aid was granted.