A man has been charged with the murder of his mother at a nursing home in Co Waterford.

Gerard Vollrath, 45, was before a sitting of Waterford District Court this morning.

His 83-year-old mother Vera Vollrath was found dead in her room at the Killure Bridge Nursing Home on the outskirts of Waterford city.

Her son, who had an address at Tramore, was charged in January with the manslaughter of his mother and was remanded on bail.

The court was told that when the murder charge was put to him by Detective Maureen Neary he made no reply.

Judge Kevin Staunton granted him free legal aid and the previous charge of manslaughter was struck out.

Inspector Anthony Dineen told the court that the book of evidence was ready and had been served.

Mr Vollrath was remanded in custody and sent forward to trial to the next sitting of the Central Criminal Courts in Dublin, which starts tomorrow.