A 37-year-old woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of her six-year-old son in Waterford last week.
Ruth Purcell Healy, of Bishop's Field, Williamstown Road, Waterford, was brought before a special sitting of Waterford District Court.
She was charged with the murder of Matthew Healy on 8 or 9 February at Rathmoylan, Co Waterford.
Detective Sergeant David Shore gave evidence of arresting and charging Ms Purcell Healy at 6.38pm and said that when he invited her to reply to the charge, she said "no thank you".
Inspector Shay Keevans applied for a remand in custody and this was granted, with Judge Kevin Staunton remanding the accused in custody to Limerick prison until next Tuesday, when she will appear by video-link before Waterford District Court.
Solicitor Kenneth Cunningham, for Ms Purcell Healy, said there would be no application for bail as the District Court can not grant bail on a murder charge, but said there will be a High Court bail application, possibly in the next fortnight.
Following a request from Mr Cunningham, the judge directed that Ms Purcell Healy be psychiatrically evaluated in custody and that she be given any medical attention deemed necessary.
Matthew was found unresponsive in a car shortly after midnight last Friday, in the Rathmoylan area of Dunmore East, and was pronounced dead a short time later at University Hospital Waterford.
