Man charged with murder of woman in Dublin house fire

Tom Tuite

A man has been remanded in custody after gardaí charged him with the murder of a mother-of-two who died in a house fire in north Dublin three months ago.

Emma McCrory, who was in her 40s, was fatally injured after a blaze broke out in her house on Howth Road, Clontarf, shortly after 8.45pm on December 15th.

Emergency services rushed to the house.

However, Ms McCrory, a stylist and fashion wholesale manager, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her body was taken to the mortuary in Whitehall, north Dublin, for a postmortem, and her funeral took place a week later.

On Friday, George Turner, 53, of Fairview Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, was arrested following an investigation by the detective unit at Clontarf Garda station. He was charged with the murder of Ms McCrory at her home on December 15th, contrary to common law.

He was then held pending his appearance before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

Dressed in a blue hooded top, jeans and brown shoes, he sat silently at the side of the courtroom during the brief hearing.

Detective Garda Cliff Singleton told Judge Jones the accused was arrested at 6.34 pm at Clontarf station on Friday and charged just over an hour later. “In reply to the charge after caution, he had no reply,” Detective Garda Singleton said.

He applied for a remand in custody. The District Court cannot hear bail a application in a murder case which requires a High Court ruling.

“Obviously, given the nature of the charge an application could not be made in this jurisdiction,” said defence solicitor Tony Collier.

He said his client had a “history of mental health difficulties”, and asked the court to recommend that Mr Turner receive a psychiatric assessment in custody.

Judge Jones remanded him in custody to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

He asked if the accused qualified for legal aid, and the solicitor submitted that Mr Turner was a suitable candidate.

It was granted after the judge noted there was no Garda objection. He also directed that Mr Turner get appropriate medical attention and supervision while on remand in prison.

The Director of Public Prosecutions must prepare a book of evidence before the District Court can make a return for trial order.