A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Sarah Staunton (28) at her home in Co. Mayo over the weekend.

Ray Gralton (22), with an address at Mount Prospect in Co. Roscommon, showed no emotion during his brief appearance at a special sitting of Ballina District Court this afternoon.

A full-scale murder investigation was launched yesterday evening after a post- mortem revealed the mother of two had been physically assaulted before her death at her home near Balla.

Mr. Gralton has been remanded in custody to appear in court again next Friday December 20th.