Sunday, September 15, 2013

Dad accused of killing two sons appears in court (County Carlow, Ireland)

Dad is identified as SANJEEV CHADA. 

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/murder-accused-father-remanded-in-custody-29578772.html

Murder accused father remanded in custody
BRIAN MCDONALD – 14 SEPTEMBER 2013

A father on suicide watch after being charged with the murder of his two sons appeared in court yesterday.

Sanjeev Chada (43), from Ballinkillen, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, arrived at Harristown District Court in Co Roscommon wearing a navy sweatshirt and kept his head bowed for the duration of his appearance.

He has been in custody at nearby Castlerea prison since August 1.

He is facing charges of murdering his sons, Eoghan (10) and Ruairi (5), at Skehanagh, Ballintubber, Co Mayo, on July 29 last.

The charges followed the discovery of the bodies of the two boys in a car boot after the vehicle had crashed into a stone wall at Ballintubber – about 20km from Westport.

At a previous court hearing, Mr Chada's solicitor, James Hanley, had asked that his client be kept separate from the rest of the inmates at Castlerea prison and requested that he be looked at regularly. 

Mr Hanley confirmed that it was a suicide-watch request and gardai agreed that this was needed.

In court yesterday, the accused man did not speak and stared at the ground throughout the hearing. He is in receipt of legal aid after the court was told that he has no income.

Supt Jim Ryan said he was seeking to have him remanded in custody for four weeks as the charges before the court were allegations of murder.

Judge Geoffrey Browne remanded him in continuing custody to appear again at Harristown District Court on October 11.