A 31-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his parents and brother at their family home in County Louth, Ireland. Robert O'Connor, of Drumgowna, Louth village, was brought before a special sitting of Drogheda District Court on Tuesday evening.
He is accused of killing his mother Louise, 56, his father Mark, 54, and his brother Evan, 27, at their home on Monday morning. A care worker discovered the bodies just before 10am, finding Mark in a pool of blood at the gate, Evan lying on the ground outside, and Louise inside the house.
Gardai arrested O'Connor about a kilometre away. A source said he was walking calmly along the road and not attempting to evade officers. It is alleged his hands were covered in blood but his clothes appeared clean, suggesting he had changed after the killings. According to reports, he told a local: 'I'm sorry for all the screaming and shouting. It's over now.'
O'Connor made no reply when the charges were put to him. His solicitor told the court he has been receiving mental health support since the age of 22 and requested a psychiatric assessment. Judge Stephanie Coggans remanded him in custody to appear again via video-link on October 6, and granted legal aid.
The victims were well-known in the community. Louise was a nurse who taught English to Ukrainian refugees and volunteered at pet rescue centres. Mark was a regional manager for the National Advocacy Service. Both were founding parents of Drogheda ABACAS Special School, which paid tribute to their advocacy for autistic people. Evan, who was autistic, attended the school for 14 years.
