LAST UPDATE | 12 Sep 2019

A WOMAN HAS appeared in court charged with aggravated burglary at the house where her brother was found dead last weekend.

Helen Jones, who is a sister to murder victim Paul Jones,  appeared before Cork District Court where she was charged with aggravated burglary at 108 Bandon Road in the Lough on the southside of the city on 4 September last. The State alleges that she had a knife with her at the time. 

Detective Garda Myles Moran gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said that Miss Jones, who has an address in Cahergal Avenue in Mayfield, Cork,  made no reply to the charge when it was put to her after caution. 

Gardaí told Judge Olann Kelleher that they would be objecting to bail in the case. Eddie Burke, solicitor, representing Ms Jones said they wouldn’t be making an application for bail at this juncture. 

Free legal aid was granted in the case after Judge Kelleher heard that Miss Jones is in receipt of disability allowance. 

Miss Jones (52) was remanded in custody to appear before the court again on 19 September. Mr Burke said that his client takes “serious medication” and is in need of medical attention in prison. 

Mr Burke said that Miss Jones has received medical assistance since her arrest on Tuesday. She spent Tuesday night in hospital. 

Miss Jones is the second person to appear in court in relation to investigation in to the death of Paul Jones. Earlier today a 41-year-old man was charged with entering as a trespasser at the house of the late Mr Jones.

Keith O’Hara (41) of 27 Cahergal Avenue in Mayfield, Cork city appeared before Cork District Court where he was charged with entering as a trespasser at 108 Bandon Road with the intent to commit the offence of assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offence against the Persons Act.

The alleged offence occurred on 4 September. There was no identification of the victim of the alleged assault.

Detective Garda Maurice O’Connor gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. He said he arrested O’Hara at Mayfield Garda Station at 7.35pm yesterday at Mayfield Garda Station. The accused made no reply to the charges.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said that gardaí were objecting to bail. However, no application for bail was made today with defence solicitor Frank Buttimer telling Judge Olann Kelleher that his client was reserving his right to apply for bail at a later date.

An application for legal aid was granted after the court heard that the accused lives on disability benefit. O’Hara is unemployed.

The case was adjourned until 19 September for the directions of the DPP. O’Hara will appear via video link on that date.

Meanwhile, Paul Jones (55) was found dead at 108 Bandon Road on 7 September last.

The body of Jones was found by his son on Saturday morning. He went to the house at 11.30am on Saturday after becoming concerned about the welfare of his father. He had been unable to contact him by phone by for a number of days.

He raised the alarm after he found his father face down in the living room area.

When the emergency services turned over the man’s body they found blood.

Following a postmortem examination the case was upgraded to a murder probe.

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