A court has heard a 32-year-old man told gardaí 'it was self-defence' when charged with the murder of a Dublin grandmother.

The remains of 61-year-old Patricia O'Connor were found scattered in the Wicklow Mountains.

Kieran Green kept his head bowed and did not speak during a brief hearing at Tallaght District Court this afternoon.

The judge was told the 32-year-old, of Mountain View Park in Churchtown in Dublin, was charged with Patricia O'Connor's murder at 11.28am this morning at Bray garda station.

His reply after caution was 'it was self defence'.

The killing is alleged to have happened at the accused's address between May 29th and 30th.

Mr Green was remanded in custody and is due back in court next week.

A garda investigation was launched last weekend, after a torso was found in the Wicklow Mountains near Enniskerry.

Since then a number of body parts belonging to Ms O'Connor have been found scattered in different locat