18-year-old charged with Michaela Davis murder

**noelyf** · 30-08-2010, 01:12 PM

Jonathan Byrne
Charged with murder

Monday, 30 August 2010

An 18-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl in west Dublin at the weekend.

Jonathan Byrne, of 24 Lohunda Downs in Clonsilla in Dublin, was brought before Dublin District Court this morning and remanded in custody until next Friday.

He is accused of the murder of Michaela Davis, whose body was found on a bank of the Royal Canal on Saturday afternoon.

A post mortem subsequently showed that she had been attacked, sexually abused and strangled.

Mr Byrne, who was dressed in jeans, white runners and a grey hoodie, did not speak during the brief hearing.

Det Sgt Daniel Callaghan from Blanchardstown Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He told the court that he arrested Jonathan Byrne at Blanchardstown Garda Station at 11.30pm yesterday and was present when he was charged by Sgt Joe Delaney.

Det Sgt Callaghan said the accused made no reply to the charge and was handed a copy of it.
Defence solicitor Eugene Dunne applied for and was granted free legal aid.

He also asked that Mr Byrne be given medical attention.

Judge Patrick Clyne remanded him in custody to appear again at Clover Hill District Court next Friday.

Support service for students
The principal of Luttrellstown Community College in Blanchardstown has said that a psychological support service for students is in place.

A 'critical incident management team' has also been set up to provide support for pupils following Michaela's murder.

Michaela was a first-year student at Luttrellstown and attended her first classes last Wednesday.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Fine Gael Councillor Kieran Dennison said the community has been supporting her family.

The principal of St Mochta's National School, where Michaela had attended until June, said she was 'a lovely child who had so much to give and to live for'.

Terry Allen said: 'The thoughts and prayers of our whole school community at this very sad and upsetting time are with Michaela's family, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy on their tragic loss.'

**wheelo** · 30-08-2010, 10:41 PM

well there is one thing for sure, if DNA matching his was found on the child, he will be done for rape as she is only 12, even if he does the usual, "i didnt meanto kill her" speech to get manslaughter ( a poxy 6 year stretch).