Man appears in court over Co Offaly murder

Second person charged over killing of Christy Daly who was found shot dead in a drain

Garda Crime Scene Investigation Unit leaving the scene in Kilbride, near Clara, Co Offaly, where the body of a man was discovered on Tuesday morning in an open drain. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Garda Crime Scene Investigation Unit leaving the scene in Kilbride, near Clara, Co Offaly, where the body of a man was discovered on Tuesday morning in an open drain. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

Eoghan MacConnell

A 20-year-old has appeared before Portlaoise District Court charged with the murder of Christy Daly in Co Offaly last December.

Matthew Gralton with an address at Mount Prospect, Roscommon is charged with murdering the 47-year-old father-of-six at Kilbride, Clara on December 29, 2013.

Sgt Caroline Lyng said the defendant “made no reply” when charged with the offence at 10.20pm in Tullamore Garda Station on Wednesday night.

READ SOME MORE

She applied to have the defendant remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison to appear before Cloverhill District Court on March 5th.

Applying for legal aid, solicitor Aideen Pendred said her client was unemployed. Judge Catherine Staines granted legal aid and remanded the defendant in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on March 5.

A second man, Ross Allen(23) of Kilmonaghan Lodge, Clara was charged with murdering Mr Daly last week.

Mr Daly’s remains were discovered in a drain at Bog Road, Kilbride, Clara on January 7th. A burnt out caravan and two burnt out cars were discovered nearby. A post mortem revealed he had been shot a number of times.