Galway murder accused remanded as judge rejects pre-emptory ruling bid

A judge has refused to mark a Galway murder case pre-emptory against the State. Dubravko Ostojic is accused of killing his mother at their Ballybrit home.

Judge declines to pressure State in Galway mother murder case

A judge has refused to mark a Galway murder case pre-emptory against the State, connachttribune.ie reports, after the defence argued the accused had been held in custody for months without sufficient progress.

Dubravko Ostojic, with an address at 52 Claí Mor, Ballybrit, is charged with the murder of Milena Ostojic at the same address on 24 April 2026, contrary to Common Law.

Ostojic appeared at Galway District Court, where Sergeant Damien Prendergast told the court the book of evidence in the case is not yet ready. Sgt Prendergast applied to have the accused remanded in custody for a further four weeks, noting that the accused's consent was required as the period exceeds the statutory two-week limit.

Defence solicitor John Martin said his client was not consenting to the four-week remand. Mr Martin told Judge Fiona Lydon that his client has been in custody since April, when he was originally charged with assault causing harm, and that the State had had five months to prepare the case.

Mr Martin applied to have the case marked pre-emptory against the State, a step that could result in the case being struck out if no progress was made by the next court date.

Sgt Prendergast urged the court not to grant that application, citing the "complexity" of the case and stating the State remains within the 42-day window required for service of the book of evidence.

Judge Lydon indicated she was inclined to side with the State. She noted that the murder charge had only come before the court in early September, following the striking out of the original assault charge.

Mr Martin submitted that the murder charge and the previous assault charge "stem from the same set of facts" and that his client had been held in custody for an extended period.

Judge Lydon said the accused faced a "very serious charge" and declined to mark the case pre-emptory against the State.

Dubravko Ostojic was remanded in custody to appear via video link on 19 October.

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Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)