16-year-old charged with Dungannon murder to undergo mental health assessment

A teenage boy charged with murdering a 61-year-old man in Co Tyrone appeared at Omagh Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. A judge ordered a mental health assessment in custody.

Boy, 16, remanded in custody after Dungannon murder charge

The Irish Times reports that a district judge has ordered a mental health assessment for a 16-year-old boy charged with the murder of a man in Co Tyrone.

The teenager appeared at Omagh Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he faced four charges in total: one count of murder, two of attempted murder, and one of making a threat to kill.

Emergency services were called to the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon on Saturday, where a 61-year-old man was found dead beside his seriously injured daughter at a residential property. Police have said the girl remains in a stable condition. The man's wife, who was also present and sustained non-life threatening injuries, has since been discharged from hospital.

The charges were read to the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as he stood in the dock. He spoke only to confirm that he understood the charges against him.

Defence lawyer Jarlath Faloon told the court that no bail application was being made at this stage, adding that his client had not previously undergone any formal psychiatric assessment. "There were clear concerns in respect of his mental health," Faloon said.

District Judge Conor Heaney ordered that the assessment be carried out while the boy remains in custody. The teenager was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Dungannon Youth Court on 15th September.

Source: Irish Times