Man charged with murder of Catherine Henry

A man has been charged in connection with the fatal assault of 62-year-old Catherine Henry at her home in Bridge Street, Dundalk on Wednesday 24 May.

Luke Donnelly (26) of no fixed abode appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Friday night.

Gardai had launched a murder probe after Ms Henry was discovered dead following a fatal assault in her home in Bridge Street, Dundalk.

Mr Donnelly was arrested on Thursday 1 June on suspicion of murder, under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

On Friday night, An Garda Síochána confirmed that Donnelly was being charged in relation to the death of Ms Henry, and that he would appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Friday night.

Detective Sgt Noel Mohan told the court on Friday that Mr Donnelly was charged at 8:52 pm that night.

Judge Gerard Jones remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

Donnelly is expected to appear before the court via video link on Wednesday (tomorrow).

Originally from Dublin, Ms Henry had been working as a volunteer at the Dundalk Soup Kitchen on Bridge Street.

Following the establishment of the murder inquiry, a senior investigating officer was appointed and an incident room set up in Dundalk Garda Station.

A family liaison officer has been appointed to keep Ms Henry’s family up to date with the investigation.

In the immediate aftermath of the murder gardaí made door-to-door inquiries in the local area.