A Portuguese man appeared in court on Monday charged with murdering his brother. Laurentino da Silva (45) of Dominick Street in Portumna, Co. Galway, was brought before a special sitting of Loughrea District Court.

Forty-five-year-old Laurentino da Silva from Portugal pictured leaving Loughrea District Court on Monday where he was charged with murdering his brother in Portumna, Co. Galway on Sunday morning. Photo: Hany Marzouk.

He was charged with murdering his brother Fernando da Silva (44) at Dominick Street in Portumna on Sunday morning.

Garda Bill O'Gorman told Judge Gerard Furlong that he arrested the accused man at Loughrea Garda station just after midnight on Monday morning and later charged him.

In reply to the charge and speaking through an interpreter, Laurentino da Silva had said: "It was in self defence. I lost control, I lost my mind."

Superintendent Enda Walsh applied to Judge Furlong to have the accused man remanded in custody. The accused, a machine operator, will appear before Harristown District Court next Friday.

Defence solicitor, John O'Neill said that he had no questions at this time and applied for legal aid for his client.

Judge Furlong said he would accede to the legal aid application given the serious nature of the charge.

Judge Furlong told defence solicitor Mr O'Neill that he was also acceding to the Garda application to remand the accused in custody. He said that any application in respect of bail would be a matter for the High Court.

The accused man had a cloth covering his head as he entered and left court. He did not speak at any stage during the brief hearing except to consult with his solicitor and with a Portuguese interpreter.

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