current

Boyle arson suspect charged with assault

A man arrested in connection with a house blaze in which a five-year-old girl died has been remanded in custody on a charge of assault.

John Lynch, (33), with an address at 39 Church View, Boyle, Co Roscommon, was brought before a hearing at Ballinasloe District Court, Co Galway, yesterday morning at 10.30am.

He was charged with assaulting Anita O'Hara, causing her harm, contrary to section three of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, at the same address in Boyle.

Garda Paul Kenny told the court the accused was charged on Wednesday at Boyle Garda Station after being arrested at an address in Ballymote, Co Sligo.

There was a short delay in the hearing to appoint a solicitor for Lynch.

Supt Tom Mullarkey said he was opposing bail and applied to have Mr Lynch remanded in custody until next week.

Judge Geoffrey Browne remanded the accused in custody to appear before Boyle District Court next Thursday, October 20. Ciara Macklin, defending, did not object to the Garda application.

Five-year-old Mari Keane Connolly died in a house fire in the early hours of October 3 at Termon Road in Boyle. Her father Richard, now seriously injured from a fall, and her two sisters, aged six and eight, managed to escape.

Lynch had initially been arrested on Tuesday as part of the wider Garda investigation into the suspected arson attack on the Connolly home in Boyle.

He had been detained and questioned under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act before being charged with the separate assault.

A woman in her 50s, also arrested for questioning in relation to the fire, remains in custody at Boyle Garda Station.