Teen charged with Dungannon murder ordered to undergo mental health assessment

A 16-year-old boy charged with murdering Sidi Djalo in Co Tyrone has been remanded in custody after a judge ordered a mental health assessment.

Mental health assessment ordered for teenager charged with Tyrone killing

A District Court judge has ordered a mental health assessment of a 16-year-old boy charged with the murder of a 61-year-old man and the attempted murder of the man's wife and daughter in Co Tyrone, RTÉ News reports.

The victim, Sidi Djalo, was found dead beside his seriously injured eight-year-old daughter at their home on Lisnahull Road in Dungannon on Saturday morning. The girl remains in hospital in a stable condition. Her mother was discharged after treatment for injuries not considered life-threatening.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before a youth court in Omagh for a brief hearing. He faces charges of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and threats to kill. He spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him.

A PSNI detective sergeant told the court she could connect the accused to all four charges.

A solicitor for the defendant raised concerns about his mental health and applied for an assessment to be carried out. District Judge Conor Heaney granted the application.

The teenager was remanded in custody and is due to appear again by video link on 15 September.

The PSNI on Sunday paid tribute to officers who administered first aid to the eight-year-old girl at the scene, stating their prompt response had given her a significant chance of survival.

Source: RTÉ News