DUBLIN: Dun Laoghaire Court has remanded in custody a young man arrested in connection with the murder of Seema Banu and her two children at their home in South Dublin. The defendant was brought before the Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.
He was arrested on Saturday morning by Dundrum Garda under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. In a murder case, bail can only be heard by the High Court, so one has to approach the High Court to get bail. The court barred the publication of further details of the case and arrest for legal reasons.
The Gardai’s conclusion on the death of Seema Banu and her children that, all three were murdered was based on a post-mortem report and circumstantial evidence. Following, CCTV footage and information were collected from a number of people. The killer was caught during a subsequent search. Defendant’s name cannot be published for legal reasons.
He was brought before Judge Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court this morning. He dressed in brown parka coat, blue jeans, white runners and wearing a face-mask. The man, stood silently with his hands in his pockets, facing the judge.
Detective Sergeant John White submitted evidence of arrest, charge and caution to the court. He told the court that Section 252 of the Children Act applied because two of the injured parties were juveniles. Judge Watkin reminded the media that there are restrictions on reporting incidents.
He has been charged with three counts of murder. However, there are indications that he has not yet confessed to the murder. The detective said the original copy of the charges had been handed over to the accused.
Judge Watkin remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. He was granted legal aid at the request of Morgan Shelley BL.
The court had earlier pointed out that the anonymity provisions of the Children Act can also apply to deceased children who were crime victims.