A 29-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Cork District Court charged with the murder of a pensioner in The Glen in the northside of Cork city in March of this year.

Aaron Wolfe of Glentransna Court, The Glen, Cork, was previously charged with assault causing harm to the late Florence (Florrie) O’Sullivan in March of this year.

The assault charge has been withdrawn now that Wolfe has been charged with the murder of the 68-year-old native of west Cork.

O’Sullivan died at Cork University Hospital on 6 April. He was hospitalised after an alleged incident at Glentrasna Court, The Glen, Cork City, on 11 March.

Detective Garda Caitriona Molloy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution at Cork District Court today. She told Judge Olann Kelleher that Wolfe made no reply when he was charged with the murder, contrary to common law, of O’Sullivan at Glentrasna Court in Cork on 11 March last.

In cases where a person has been charged with murder bail cannot be applied for at the district court. Free legal aid was granted and Frank Buttimer was assigned as the solicitor to Wolfe.

Sgt Lyons said that the DPP had directed that the case would proceed to the Central Criminal Court for a trial or on a signed plea for sentencing. Buttimer indicated that the case would proceed to trial at the Central Criminal Court. He stated that a book of evidence would be necessary in the case.

The accused was remanded in custody to appear before Cork District Court again on 27 September next. Wolfe, who was wearing a dark tracksuit, did not speak during the brief hearing. He will appear before video link from prison on his next appearance in court.

Following the death of O’Sullivan a postmortem examination was conducted at Cork University Hospital (CUH) by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. The results were not released. However, the case was upgraded to a murder probe.

O’Sullivan was originally from Adrigole in west Cork. He had lived in a flat in Cork City for many years before moving to Carrigaline in Co Cork.

He was found on the street at Glentrasna Court shortly after 8pm on 11 March. He had sustained serious injuries and died in hospital the following month.

O’Sullivan was laid to rest at Kilcaskin Cemetery on 10 April after 11am Requiem Mass at St Fachtna’s Church in Adrigole.

He is survived by two brothers and a sister, a brother and sister-in-law as well as extended family and friends.