A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of three of his family members in Co Louth.
Robert O'Connor, 31, of Drumgowna, Louth Village, was brought before a special sitting of Drogheda District Court accused of three counts of murder.
He is charged with the murder of his mother Louise, his father Mark and his brother Evan at their family home in the Drumgowna area, where they were found dead on Monday morning.
Garda Shane O'Malley of Drogheda Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
The court was told that the accused made no reply when the charges were put to him.
There was no application for bail as the District Court does not have the jurisdiction to grant such an application.
Judge Stephanie Coggans remanded the accused in custody to appear before the same court again via video-link next Monday, 6 October.
Solicitor Paul James Moore made two applications before the court.
He said his client had been with mental health services since the age of 22 and his first application related to his client receiving the appropriate psychiatric assessment.
Mr Moore said his second application was for legal aid.
Judge Coggans granted both applications and provided free legal aid in the form of one solicitor and one legal counsel.
Dressed in a grey jumper and black tracksuit bottoms, Robert O'Connor did not address the court.
A family member was in court for the brief hearing.
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