Youth charged with murder of teenager in Claremorris

A 16-year-old Mayo schoolboy appeared briefly in court today (Friday) charged with the murder of a teenager.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested by gardai in Claremorris, at 7.35 a.m. yesterday (Friday) and conveyed to the local garda station where he was later charged with the murder of Dovydas Jenkas (17), Claremount Manor, Claremorris, on December 19.

Sergeant James Carroll told Judge Mary Devins at a special court sitting in Castlebar that when he charged the accused at 11.10 am he replied “Nothing to say”.

The accused was in the company of his mother when charged, Detective Sgt Carroll said.

Garda Inspector Tom Calvey asked that the accused be returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Devins remanded the accused in custody at Osberstown House to appear again at Ballina District Court on Friday next, April 8.

The court heard that the book of evidence in the case would be ready in about five weeks.

Evan O’Dwyer, solicitor, complained to the court that that no prior notice of arrest had given to the accused who, he said, had always co-operated with gardai in their investigations and complied with bail conditions.

Detective Sgt. Carroll replied that the early morning arrest was not his decision and it had been taken for operational reasons.

Judge Devins said the issues raised concerning the arrest were not a matter for the court