Updated 12.38
A man (26) has been charged with the violent murder of 2 elderly brothers in Mayo this week.
Alan Cawley, of Four Winds, Corrimbla South, Ballina, Co. Mayo, has appeared before Swinford District Court charged over the deaths of Jack & Tom Blaine, at their home in Castlebar on Wednesday.
The arresting officer told the court that Cawley said he was 'sorry for all the torture I put people through'.
Mr Cawley has been remanded to Castlerea Prison, where he'll be closely monitored, and psychiatrically assessed.
He will appear before the court again next Friday.
Detective Sergeant Gary Walsh of Castlebar garda station gave evidence of arresting the accused at 1.08am this morning, and later charging him with the murders of Jackie Blaine and his brother, Tommy, at Newantrim Street, Castlebar on Wednesday morning.
Alan Cawley, who was dressed in an orange hoodie and flanked by detectives throughout, didn’t speak at all during the brief hearing.
A woman, believed to be the accused man’s mother, sobbed at times. A number of relatives of the Blaines were in court, where the atmosphere was described as tense.
Mayo News journalist Edwin McGrayal spoke to Newstalk's Lunchtime programme about Mr. Cawley's court appearance:
