The 29-year-old son of a popular Castlebar woman who was stabbed to death on Tuesday morning has been charged with his mother’s murder.
The town of Castlebar and surrounding communities have been plunged into grief this week at the sudden and tragic death of local woman Carmel Marrinan.
Mrs Marrinan (61 ), who was stabbed to death at her home at Blackfort, Newport Road, Castlebar, in the early hours of Tuesday morning is to be laid to rest today (Friday ).
Her son Seamus was charged at a special sitting of Castlebar District Court on Wednesday for murdering his mother at the family home by Detective Sgt James F Carroll to which he replied “guilty of that charge”.
Judge Mary Devins remanded Mr Marrinan to Castlerea prison to appear again in Castlebar District Court on July 15.
Solicitor for Marrinan, Mr Aidan Crowley, asked Judge Devins to direct that Marrinan receive immediate psychiatric assessment as he had been previously refused it by the mental health services following his initial arrest after the incident. Mr Crowley told the court that his client had been first arrested at 3.58am on Tuesday July 7 and had been brought to Mayo General Hospital from the Garda station but was refused a psychiatric assessment by the services there because it was a criminal matter. Mr Crowley went on to say that his client was a suicide risk and asked that he be put on 24 hour watch adding that his GP had attended him twice over the past day and had seen a noticeable change in him and had prescribed psychiatric medication. Judge Devins asked whether Mr Marrinan’s GP could request an assessment for his patient, to which Supt William Keaveney told the court “They wouldn’t attend”.
Mr Marrinan told the court, which was attended by his father and six brothers and sisters: “I just want to say I’m sorry, and could you send me to hell.” Judge Devins remanded him to Castlerea prison and requested that he receive immediate psychiatric assessment.
The deceased received her fatal injuries at around 4am on Tuesday . She was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel who attempted to resuscitate her in the hallway of her house before being removed to Mayo General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Her son Seamus was arrested around 4am on Tuesday in connection with the incident and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. He was later released from custody and subsequently admitted to hospital. However he was refused a psychiatric assessment because the matter was a criminal one, and his period of detention was then extended before he was charged with his mother’s murder on Wednesday afternoon.
The house and area around it were sealed off on Tuesday for a technical examination and a post mortem examination was carried out on Mrs Marrinan’s remains on Tuesday. However Gardaí are not releasing the outcome of the post mortem for operational reasons.
Mrs Marrinan was the mother of seven children and worked as a nurse at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar. The local community, her neighbours and friends are in a state of grief and shock.
Mayor of Castlebar Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne has expressed his and the community’s condolences to the Marrinan family. He said this was the worst possible tragedy to befall a family and he found it difficult to put into words the depth of his sorrow. Last night’s (Thursday ) meeting of Castlebar Town Council was adjourned as a mark of respect to the Marrinan family.
Mrs Marrinan, who is originally from Tooreen, Ballyhaunis, is survived by her husband Seamus; sons Brendan, Seamus, Cormac; daughters Siobhan, Ciara, Treasa, and Sile.
Mrs Marrinan’s remains reposed at the Mayo General Hospital mortuary yesterday (Thursday ) afternoon from four o’clock to eight o’clock with removal to the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar. Mrs Marrinan will be buried today (Friday ) following Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock at Castlebar’s new cemetery.
