A man has been charged with murdering Ms Gillian Thornton in Ballina last weekend. At a special sitting of Ballina District Court yesterday, Mr Dean William Richardson (21), of Greenhills Estate, Ballina, was remanded in custody on a charge of murdering Ms Thornton (20) between 2 a.m. on Friday, October 17th and 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, October 18th at Abbeyhalfquarter, Ballina.
He was remanded to Ballina District Court on October 28th by Judge Dan Shields following evidence of arrest, charge and caution by Det Sgt John McCormack. The court was told that when arrested, the accused shook his head and said: "Nothing to say."
On an application by Mr John Gordon, solicitor, the judge ordered a psychiatric assessment to be carried out by Dr Art O'Connor.
