Man (34) charged with murdering his partner in Co Meath

Gardai have accused the boyfriend of Larisa Serban of killing the mother-of-two at her Co. Meath house. He has been remanded in custody with a recommendation that he undergoes a psychiatric assessment.

On Friday at approximately 5 am, Ms. Serban died in her rented house in Rathmore, close to Athboy.

She was pronounced dead at the site despite the garda and medical personnel arriving quickly. Romanian-born Ms. Serban, 26, has lived in Ireland for several years.

She lived in Co. Westmeath before moving to Athboy with her family about a year ago.

The accused, Daniel Blanaru, handed himself into gardaí. Following the arrest, he was taken to Ashbourne Garda station, where he was held overnight for questioning.

On Saturday afternoon, he was charged with the murder of Larisa Serban on August 12 at her home.

Mr Blanaru, 34, who is also Romanian but has an address at Rathmore, Athboy, Co. Meath, appeared before Judge Miriam Walsh at a special sitting of Trim District Court on Saturday evening.

Dressed in a blue T-shirt, navy tracksuit bottoms and runners, Mr Blanaru,  stood silently throughout the brief hearing. He listened to the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter.

Detective Sergeant Colm McNally, of Kells station, told the court that at 2.05 pm on Saturday, he arrested the accused “for the purpose of charge for the offence of murder contrary to common law, as directed by the DPP”.

The defendant was charged at 3.08 pm and cautioned that if he had anything to say, it would be taken down and used in evidence.

The court heard “he made no reply after caution and was handed a true copy of the charge sheet”.

Defence solicitor Maurice Regan said there could be no bail application at this stage.

The district court cannot grant bail in murder cases which only the High Court can consider.

Judge Walsh remanded Mr Blanaru in custody to appear again at Trim District Court on Tuesday via video link.

Mr Regan told the court the translator had been helpful during the investigation.

The judge said it was “imperative” that the accused would have the translator’s assistance at the next hearing.

The judge noted that there was no garda objection when Mr. Regan claimed that his client met the requirements for legal assistance.

Judge Walsh agreed to the defense’s motion to order a psychiatric assessment of Mr. Blanaru while he was in detention and granted it.

The solicitor explained that there had been “a number of issues in relation to my advice that he is not taking in”.

%d bloggers like this: