A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of an elderly woman in Kilkenny almost 30 years ago.

John Joe Malone (52), with an address at 46 Newpark, Kilkenny, appeared before a special sitting of Kilkenny District Court earlier.

Ann Nancy Smyth (79) was found dead in her home on Wolfe Tone Street in the city, following a fire in 1987.

The widow was found dead in her home by fire fighters, who had been called to a blaze on Wolfe Tone street in the town.

Mary Cody of the Kilkenny People told Newstalk's Pat Kenny show the Garda Cold Case unit reopened the case and received new information: "A man was arrested after the murder, but there was nobody charged at that time. Since that there has been a lot of speculation locally, but no-one was charged."