The man accused of murdering Elaine O'Hara has been granted legal aid. The decision was made after the financial affairs of Graham Dwyer from Kerrymount Close, Foxrock in Dublin were laid bare in court today.

Mr. Dwyer appeared before Cloverhill District Court this morning via video link, but was brought into the courtroom itself just after lunch.

He has been in custody since last month when he was arrested and charged with killing Elaine O'Hara somewhere in Dublin just over a year ago.

An application for legal aid was made before Judge Gráinne Malone today and a statement of means was made available to her.

It outlined how the married father of two no longer earns a salary and has no assets to pay his legal costs.

His lawyer outlined how there were on-going family and work-related issues being thrashed out behind closed doors, and he described how Mr. Dwyer's Foxrock home is in negative equity and how he is well behind in his mortgage payments.

Taking all this into consideration, Judge Malone granted legal aid - which means the taxpayer will have to foot the bill for his legal costs.

Earlier today the court heard how gardai are almost ready to send a file on the murder to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Mr. Dwyer has been remanded in custody to appear in court again next month.