A man in his 20s has appeared in court, charged in connection with a fatal house fire in Co Offaly last year.
22-year-old Michael Dunne, with an address in Co Kildare, appeared before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court this evening.
Detective Garda Tom Dunne of Tullamore Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
He told the court that at 1.08pm this afternoon, he charged Michael Dunne with two offences, criminal damage by arson and endangerment on 6 December last year.
There was no application for bail.
Judge Andrew Cody remanded Michael Dunne in custody, to appear back before Tullamore District Court via video-link next Wednesday.
Four-year-old Tadgh Farrell and 60-year-old Mary Holt died in the blaze at a house in Castleview Park in Edenderry on 6 December.
The child had been visiting his grandmother and great aunt when the home was attacked shortly before 7.45pm that Saturday evening.
This is the first person to be charged in relation to the investigation.
Four others arrested as part of the investigation - three men and a teenage boy - remain in garda custody.
During the brief hearing legal representatives asked that their identity not be publicised because of what they described a contentious and dangerous local feud.
Judge Andrew Cody denied the request. However, he did accede to a request around reporting restrictions around the accused's exact address.
The accused, who was wearing a green hoody and grey tracksuit bottoms, did not speak during this evening's hearing.
