A 62-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged with the murder of pensioner Mary O’Keeffe whose body was found in a burning car last week.
Michael Leonard, who resides at an address at Hillcrest, Glenosheen, Kilmallock in Co Limerick, was formally charged during a special sitting of the district court in Fermoy this morning.
Detective Sergeant James O'Shea was present and gave evidence of Leonard's arrest and charge at Fermoy Garda Station on the evening of Saturday, February 6.
When cautioned, Leonard made no comment.
Inspector Tony O’Sullivan, who was also in attendance, said the directions of the DPP was for trial on indictment.
He applied for Leonard to be remanded in custody and appear again via videolink during a meeting of the district court in Cork City set for next Friday.
Brendán Gill, Leonard’s solicitor, applied for free legal aid. The request was granted by Judge Marie Keane.
Judge Keane also directed that Leonard receive appropriate medical treatment, including a psychiatric assessment, before remanding him in custody.
Ms O’Keeffe’s body was first discovered in the burned-out car near Coillte forest in Doneraile by firefighters responding to a call from a passerby on Thursday, February 4.
A postmortem has been conducted.
The 72-year-old widow worked as a cook and lived in Domahane near Mallow in Co Cork.
She is survived by her three adult sons.
The arrangements for her funeral are expected to be formalised in the next few days.
