Man (45) charged with murder of his father (73) in Waterford

Olivia Kelleher

A 45-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his 73-year-old father at their family farm in Cappagh, about six kilometres northwest of Dungarvan, in April.

Emergency services were called to the farm of John Cashman Snr (73) at Rockfield House, Cappagh on April 13th last.

The pensioner was found injured and unresponsive. A local doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.

His son John Cashman Jnr, with an address at an apartment on the family farm in Rockfield, appeared before a sitting of Carrick on Suir District Court in Co Tipperary on April 29th last charged with assault causing harm to his father.

Cashman Jnr appeared before Dungarvan District Court in Waterford today. Sgt Alan Hayes told Judge John O’Leary that the DPP had withdrawn the assault causing harm charge, with a charge of murder now being levelled against the middle-aged man.

He is charged with the murder of his father on April 13th last on their farm in Cappagh.

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Det Garda Martin Keohane of Dungarvan Garda Station. He said that when the murder charge was put to Cashman on Monday at Dungarvan Garda Station, he replied: “No comment.”

As the charge is that of murder, no bail application can be made in the case at the district court level.

The Judge remanded Cashman Jnr in custody to appear before Clonmel District Court by video link on Tuesday. He reserved the issue of legal aid after Cashman Jnr informed him that he had changed his legal representation.

Cashman Jnr also asked whether he would be remanded in custody to Cork or Limerick Prison. He was told that that was a matter for the Prison Service and the Department of Justice.

Cashman Jnr previously told the court that he had moved back to Ireland from the UK in 2021 and set up a business restoring vintage farm machinery.

The deceased was a well-known farmer who ran as an Independent candidate for Waterford County Council several years ago. He was a married father of five.

His requiem mass took place on April 18th last in St James’ Church, Ballinameela with burial following in the adjoining cemetery.