Tenant charged with his landlord's murder in Dublin

The room was full of lawyers, gardai and members of the public, but a hush fell over the busy proceedings in Blanchardstown District Court as the day's first defendant entered quietly and stood before Judge David McHugh.

Saverio Bellante (34), who had been lodging at an address in Beechpark Avenue, Castleknock, was charged in the early hours of yesterday with the murder of his landlord, 39-year-old Tom O'Gorman, who was stabbed and beaten.

Mr O'Gorman, who was involved with a number of Catholic groups and campaigns including the Iona Institute, was found dead at his west Dublin home at around 2am on Sunday. Mr Bellante was arrested at the scene.

Originally from Palermo in Sicily, the Italian national appeared in court shortly after 10.30am dressed in a black sweater, black trousers, maroon polo shirt and grey trainers, with his dark hair and beard neatly trimmed.

He stood calmly, his hands in his trouser pockets, and listened intently as Detective Garda Patrick Traynor took the stand and described how the defendant had been cautioned and charged at Blanchardstown garda station at 12.05am yesterday by Sergeant Morgan O'Connor and that he had replied to the caution: "I am guilty."

Mr Bellante spoke briefly during the short hearing when the subject of his legal representation was raised.

Judge McHugh enquired if the defendant had applied for legal aid, and a female garda standing beside Mr Bellante replied that "he's happy to represent himself".

QUESTIONED

When the judge sought clarification on the matter, Mr Bellante explained: "She questioned me if I was happy to represent myself.

"The answer is yes, I want to represent myself."

Judge McHugh then remanded him in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on Friday, January 17, and also directed that Mr Bellante be sent for medical assessment, with the court services to decide the nature of the assessment. Then the defendant was led away from the court.

The hearing to charge the 34-year-old man with the murder of Mr O'Gorman had lasted no more than five minutes, and unfolded with no drama or emotion-- in stark contrast to the dramatic circumstances surrounding the fatal attack at around 1.50am on Sunday.

Gardai responded to a 999 call and found the victim in the house, a large detached property in a middle-class area, which was Mr O'Gorman's childhood family home and where he had continued to live since the death of his mother Ann in 2012, letting out one of the rooms.

SOURCE-IRISH INDEPENDENT