A Romanian man charged in connection with the murder of a 64-year-old father of three whose dismembered body was found at a derelict house in Cork city in December 2019 was unable to appear in court today as he is in isolation.
Francis “Frankie” Dunne late of Churchfield Avenue, Knocknaheeny in Cork was found dead on the grounds of a house in Boreenmanna Road in the city on December 28th, 2019.
Ionut Cosmin Nicholescu appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court last Friday night charged in connection with the murder.
Mr Nicholescu is charged that on a date unknown between the 27th and the 28th of December 2019 at Castle Greine in Boreenmanna Road in Cork city he did murder Frankie Dunne contrary to common law.
Detective Garda Alan McCarthy said that he arrested Mr Nicholescu at 3.37pm on Sunday at Dublin Airport. The 29 year old was arrested on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.
Gardaí applied for a remand in custody for Mr Nicholescu who has an address in Branista Village, Branista Commune, Damovita in Romania. Judge Olann Kelleher remanded the defendant in custody.
On Thursday at Cork District Court solicitor for Mr Nicholescu, Shane Collins Daly, said that his client was unable to appear by video link as he is in isolation.
Judge Kelleher further remanded Mr Nicholescu in custody until December 20th next. His 14 days of isolation will be complete at that juncture.
Appropriate medical assistance will be given to the defendant in the interim whilst free legal aid was previously granted by Judge Kelleher following an application by Mr Nicholescu’s barrister Elaine Audley. Ms Audley said her client is unemployed.
Judge Kelleher was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions has already ruled that the matter be dealt with by indictment before judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court.
Homeless
Mr Dunne was last seen alive on December 27th, 2019 leaving Cork Simon’s high support homeless centre Clanmornin House on the Boreeenmanna Road on the southside of the city. He lived onsite with ten other formerly homeless people. He also received support from his family.
Meanwhile, at Mr Dunne’s funeral mass at St Mary’s on the Hill church, in Knocknaheeny in Cork, his nieces Breda and Yvonne said that the family would forever cherish their memories of seeing Frankie the Christmas before he died.
Breda told mourners Frankie was a “character” who touched the lives of all he met. He loved horse racing, fixing broken phones and second hand shops. He was described as a “gentleman” who loved to sing.
gardaí involved in the murder investigation travelled to Romania in the weeks after the murder to interview a man who had made the journey from Cork to the country in the days after the murder.