A woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of her six-year-old son.
Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, 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 last at Rathmoylan in Co Waterford.
Detective Sergeant David Shoer gave evidence of arresting and charging the accused tonight 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 demanding the accused in custody in Limerick prison until next Tuesday.
He also ordered that she by psychiatrically evaluated on arrival in prison.
Matthew Healy was found unresponsive in a car shortly after midnight last Friday, 9 February, in the Rathmoylan area of Dunmore East and pronounced dead a short time later at University Hospital in Waterford.
He has been lying in repose at his father’s house in Watergrasshill in Co Cork and his funeral Mass will take place tomorrow at 12pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watergrasshill and will be followed by a private cremation service.
