A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with murdering another man in a crowded bar in Limerick last weekend.

Mark Crawford, with an address at Distillery View, Thomondgate, Limerick, appeared before Limerick District Court this morning, charged with murdering 24-year old Kileely native Patrick ‘Pa’ O’Connor.

Crawford is charged with O’Connor’s murder at Fitzgerald’s Bar, Sexton Street North, Thomondgate, on 7 July.

He died from his injuries in the early hours of last Sunday morning at University of Limerick after being rushed there by ambulance from Fitzgerald’s Bar.

Detective Garda Tommy Griffin, Mayorstone Garda Station gave evidence of arresting and charging Crawford last Monday.

Griffin said that after he cautioned the accused he “made no reply”.

The court was interrupted by the victim’s mother who shouted at the accused. She was led away from the court by relatives in a distressed state.

Other family members wept throughout the brief court proceedings.

Griffin told the court he arrested Crawford at Henry Street garda station at 9.18pm yesterday, and charged him with O’Connor’s murder at 9.29pm.

Crawford’s solicitor Sarah Ryan said she had “no questions” about the arrest and cautioning of her client.

Sergeant Donal Cronin, Henry Street garda station, applied for the accused to be remanded in custody to next Tuesday “for the purposes of obtaining DPP directions”.

Crawford wore a grey and black Adidas tracksuit and did not speak during the brief hearing.

Judge Marian O’Leary remanded him in custody to appear before Limerick District Court again next Tuesday 17 July.

O’Connor worked as an employee at Pallas Foods.

Funeral

Yesterday, hundreds of people turned out near O’Connor’s home in Kileely where an intimate remembrance vigil was held.

O’Connor’s family, friends and neighbours released hundreds of balloons into the sky in his memory.

Meanwhile, according to funeral arrangements posted on Rip.ie Mr O’Connor’s remains will repose in Cross’ Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick, from 5pm-6.30pm tomorrow.

Requiem mass will take place at St Munchin’s Church, Clancy’s Strand at 9.30am on Friday with burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver Cemetery.

A post-mortem was carried out on the victim’s body on Monday, however gardai said they would not be disclosing details of the autopsy for “operational reasons”.