Man accused of murdering his brother in Kerry town goes on trial as jury is selected

A jury has been selected for the trial of a Kerry man who is accused of murdering his brother more than a year ago.

When arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, Fergus O’Connor, aged 42, of The Village, Scartaglin, Castleisland, County Kerry pleaded not guilty to murdering Pádraig O’Connor on June 28, 2024.

Before selecting the jury, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the single charge relates to an incident which occurred at a property at An Caisleán Mór, Castleisland, in the north of the county.

The house, she said, was the then home of Fergus O’Connor and Pádraig O’Connor's mother.

Ms Justice Greally told the jury panel the trial, which is taking place in Limerick, is expected to last between two and three weeks and that there are potentially more than 70 witnesses in the case.

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The jury panel was told the defendant has worked in the construction industry, primarily as a plasterer and that he has also worked for a tyre company in Castleisland.

A jury of nine men and three women has been selected for the trial which gets underway this Monday afternoon.