Teenager remanded over death of girl, 12

Jonathan Byrne, from Clonsilla in west Dublin was detained on Saturday after the schoolgirl’s body was found by an elderly man.

Michaela Davis was found dead in thick undergrowth on a steep bank between a commuter railway line and a path beside the Royal Canal near her home in the west of the city. It is believed she was strangled.

Byrne was remanded in custody at a brief hearing in the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Detective Sergeant Dan Callaghan told the court Byrne made no reply when he was charged late on Sunday.

He is accused of killing Michaela in the early hours of Saturday morning – between where her body was recovered and her family home.

Judge Patrick Clyne requested that Byrne be given medical attention. He did not speak during the brief hearing.

He waved to someone in the public gallery of the District Court as he was led away by prison officers.

The teenager was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Friday.

Michaela had started secondary school last week, but was hanging around with older teenagers and some young adults.

Gardai are still investigating if the schoolgirl was being sexually exploited for cigarettes, money or alcohol.

The 12-year-old had been out with friends on Friday evening before she went home that night.

She last seen alive just after midnight on Saturday when she told her family she was going out and would be back in a few minutes and left on her bike.

Michaela was reported missing just over two hours later by parents Brendan and Deirdre when she never came home and a major search operation was launched by gardai.

Shortly before 4pm on Saturday Michaela’s remains were spotted by a walker hidden in thick undergrowth just minutes from her home. Her bike was recovered at a second scene.

Within four hours Byrne was detained.