A mother charged with the murder of her children in a car fire in County Westmeath was too unwell to face a court hearing today.

Five-year-old Thelma Dennany and her two-year-old brother Mikey Dennany were killed in the car fire near Multyfarnham at around 4pm on September 9th.

After emergency services arrived, Mikey was rushed to the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar but pronounced dead there.

Thelma’s remains were found inside the car.

Their mother, Lynn Egar, also suffered injuries but was airlifted to a Dublin hospital.

A week and a half later, she was arrested and charged with murdering the two children.

The 48-year-old first appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at a late special sitting of Mullingar District Court on September 22nd.

She was remanded in custody to the Dochas Centre - the women’s unit of Mountjoy Prison - to reappear today; however, the court was told she could not attend or appear via video link.

The Prison Service furnished the court with a sick note and Judge Owens ordered that it be shown to defence solicitor Damien Coffey, who was instructed to consent to a four-week adjournment.

Judge Owens remanded Ms Egar in continuing custody in her absence to appear again on November 24th.

Concerning the Director of Public Prosecutions' directions, the Court Garda Sergeant Kevin O'Brien said: "We will know more on the next date".

Reporting from Tom Tuite at Mullingar District Court.