A 15-year-old boy has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a young Dublin man who died following a fatal Halloween stabbing last year.
Lorcan O’Reilly (21), from Robert Emmet Close in south inner city Dublin, was stabbed in the nearby Oliver Bond flat complex in the early hours of November 1st last year.
The incident happened at approximately 2.30am when he had been at Halloween festivities with friends.
He sustained a single stab wound to the heart and was taken to St James’s Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Detectives arrested the boy on Thursday morning and he was brought to appear before Judge William Hamill at the Dublin Children’s Court on Friday morning.
The boy is charged with the murder of Mr O’Reilly at Oliver Bond flats. He was aged 14 at the time of Mr O’Reilly’s death. The boy has not yet entered a plea.
Det Sgt Whitelaw told Judge Hamill that at 12.05am on Friday at Kilmainham Garda station the teenager was charged. The boy was handed a copy of the charge sheet and was cautioned after which "he had nothing to say", he said.
Det Sgt Whitelaw told the court that he was asking for a one week remand in custody. Judge Hamill noted there was a space available to hold the boy at the Trinity House detention in north Dublin and remanded him to appear again at the Children’s Court next Friday.
The boy spoke briefly when was asked to confirm the name of the solicitor he wanted to represent him. Sitting on the defendant’s bench he pointed to Mr Quinn and quietly whispered “John”.
The boy was accompanied to court by his mother and his grandmother. The boy will have apply to the High Court for bail because he faces a murder charge. Judge Hamill said the Children’s Court did not have the power to deal with the bail application.
Parents or guardians are legally obliged to attend cases at the Children’s Court. Judge Hamill said “perhaps due to the gravity of the charge, it would be entirely appropriate, in his interest, to have both his parents attend”.
Defence solicitor John Quinn said he would contact the teenager’s father about attending when the case resumes on April 8th next.
An application was made for legal aid and Judge Hamill was told by Mr Quinn that neither of the boy’s parents was employed and they were not in a position to fund their defence. Det Sgt Whitelaw had no objection and legal aid was granted.