LAST UPDATE | 14 Nov

A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN has been brought before Portlaoise District Court this morning charged with murder.

Henry McGowan with an address at Clinton Street, Brookyn in New York, USA was charged with the offence which allegedly took place at Ballyfin Demense, Ballyfin, Laois.

He’s accused of killing John McGowan on Tuesday of this week. 

Detective Garda Ger Galwey gave evidence of the arrest and said when cautioned Mr McGowan made no reply to the charge.

Judge Andrew Cody remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill Prison and adjourned the case, to be conducted by video link, to Monday next. 

Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said he accepted the court had no jurisdiction to grant bail. 

He said that it has been accepted that his client has significant mental health issues and asked Judge Cody to request the prison service to provide immediate medical assistance to Mr McGowan, to which he agreed.

Ballyfin Demesne is well-known internationally, having hosted high-profile celebrities in recent years. In 2016 it was voted the world’s number one hotel according to over 300,000 readers of the influential New York travel magazine.