A man (47) has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his elderly mother at a nursing home in Co. Waterford. Gerald Vollrath of Tramore Heights in Tramore has been remanded on continuing bail ahead of his sentencing at the Central Criminal Court on February 17th.

His mother, Veronica Vollrath (83) was found dead in her room at Killure Bridge Nursing Home on January 9th last year.

Her son was due to stand trial today for her murder but before the prosecution began, barrister Paul O'Higgins SC, for the DPP, indicated to the jury that there had been a development and that the accused man could be re-arraigned on a substituted charge.

The charge of attempted murder was then put to Gerald Vollrath. He entered a guilty plea which was accepted by the prosecution. Mr. Justice Paul Carney discharged the 12 jurors who had been sworn in last Monday for a 5-day trial.

The DPP's willingness to drop the murder charge may indicate there is some uncertainty as to the cause of death of his mother.

Vollrath, who was dressed in a grey suit and tie, has had some of his bail conditions relaxed ahead of his sentencing hearing next year.

Instead of signing on at a garda station three times a week, it has been agreed that he need only sign on every Wednesday. A condition that he must surrender his passport to the Austrian authorities when he is in Austria has also been removed.