Murder charge in Clifden: Ali Sohrabi remanded pending DPP directions

Ali Sohrabi (35) remains in custody after being charged with the murder of Masoumeh Jafri Manojan near Clifden, Co Galway. The case returns to court on 17 June.

Clifden murder accused held in custody as DPP directions awaited

A 35-year-old man charged with murdering a woman near Clifden, Co Galway, has been further remanded in custody, the Irish Times reports.

Ali Sohrabi, of no fixed abode, appeared before Galway District Court on Wednesday via video-link from Castlerea Prison. He was formally charged with the murder of Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, a 31-year-old Iranian national also known as Masuma Sohrabi, on Saturday last.

The body of Jafri Manojan was discovered the previous Thursday at Waterloo Bridge in Clifden, close to the International Protection Accommodation Service centre where she had been living.

Sergeant Christy Browne applied to Judge Michael Connellan to remand Sohrabi in custody until 17 June, pending receipt of instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Defence solicitor Cathy McDarby raised no objection to the application. Court proceedings were interpreted into Persian for the accused.

Detective Sergeant Frank Hand, of Oranmore Garda station, told a special court sitting on Saturday that he had arrested Sohrabi at the Garda's North West Regional Headquarters in Murrough at 7.45pm that evening. When the charge of murder contrary to common law was put to him, the accused said "no."

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offence took place at Couravoughil, Clifden, on dates between 27 and 28 May. No bail application was made. Judge Fiona Lydon directed that Sohrabi receive all appropriate psychiatric and medical assistance while in custody.

Source: Irish Times