A 16-year-old boy appeared in court in Kildare town yesterday, charged with the murder of a 19-year-old woman in Celbridge on Tuesday night. The youth cannot be named for legal reasons.
Rebecca Kinsella was found with serious injuries at her home in Grattan Court in the north Kildare town at about 11pm on Tuesday. Her mother raised the alarm when she returned home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The boy was brought before a special sitting of the Children's Court at the courthouse in Kildare town yesterday morning. He was visibly distressed during the hearing and buried his head in his hands as he was comforted by relatives.
Det Sgt Ashley O'Sullivan told Judge Murrough Connellan he arrested the youth at 6.24pm on Wednesday at Naas Garda station. He was charged with murder at 7.28pm, in the presence of his grandfather. When charged and cautioned, the boy replied "yeah", Det Sgt O'Sullivan said.
Judge Connellan remanded the boy in custody to St Patrick's Institution. He will appear at the Children's Court in Naas courthouse on Thursday, February 2nd. No request for legal aid was made and Judge Connellan asked that any future application be made in writing.
The boy's solicitor, Conal Boyce, asked the judge if he could recommend to the prison authorities that the boy's "fragile state" be given the attention it required.
Judge Connellan recommended that the boy be given any medical attention "as appropriate". He reminded the media of the reporting restrictions involved in a hearing at the Children's Court.
