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Two charged over River Bandon death

Ciprian Grozavu is charged with murder
Ciprian Grozavu is charged with murder

A man and a woman have been charged with the murder of Jonathan Duke, whose body was recovered from the River Bandon on Sunday night.

The two appeared before a special sitting of the District Court in Bandon this evening.

35-year-old Catherine O'Connor and 37-year-old Romanian national Ciprian Grozavu, both of Bandon Bridge House, were charged with the murder of Jonathan Duke at Bandon Bridge House, Sean Hale's Place, Bandon, on 13 November 2011.

The court was told that when Ms O'Connor was arrested, charged and cautioned by gardaí, she replied "No".

When Mr Grozavu was arrested, charged and cautioned he replied "I didn't do it".

Solicitors for the two applied and were granted free legal aid.

The court was told that Ms O'Connor is in receipt of a disability allowance and Mr Grozavu is unemployed.

Superintendent Eddie MacEoin applied to have both remanded in custody to appear before the District Court in Bandon again on 21 November.

Judge James McNulty granted his application and also granted an application by solicitor Eddie Burke on behalf of his client Catherine O'Connor that she by psychiatrically assessed on her arrival in Limerick prison.

The court hearing lasted seven minutes.

A crowd of around 300 people had gathered outside when the two were brought to court from the local garda station.

This afternoon, a second body was recovered from the river 500 metres downstream from Bandon Bridge House by gardaí investigating the death of Mr Duke.

The body is believed to be that of a British man in his 40s and was discovered at 11.45am.

This man also lived in a flat in Bandon Bridge House and had been last seen on Saturday.

Superintendent MacEoin said he would like to appeal to anyone who spoke with Mr Duke over the weekend, especially on Sunday, to contact them on 023-8852200.