Gardaí have charged a 32-year-old man with the murder John O’Neill from Lisdoonvarna in Co Clare.

The body of the 78-year-old widower was found at a premises in the town on Friday morning.

The 32-year-old Thomas Lorigan , of no fixed residence ,was brought before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday night, charged with the murder of John O’Neill at St Brendan’s Road in Lisdoonvarna Co Clare, at an unknown time, on the 6th or 7th of January.

The court heard he replied “no comment” when cautioned and charged.

Judge Marie Keane remanded him in custody to Limerick Prison, to appear via video link at next Wednesday’s sitting of the District Court in Ennis.

Mr Lorigan’s solicitor, Shiofra Hassett, asked that her client be psychiatrically assessed while on remand in prison.

An application for legal aid was also granted during last night’s brief hearing.