A man charged with arson at a house in Roscommon where five-year-old Mari Keane-Connolly died was yesterday refused bail at Harristown District Court.

33-year-old John Lynch of Church View in Boyle has spent three weeks since his arrest in solitary confinement at his own request, a court has been told.

Mr. Lynch is charged with arson at Termon Road in Boyle on October 3rd. He is also charged with assaulting Anita O'Hara at Church View in Boyle on the same date.

Mr. Lynch was refused bail by Judge Geoffrey Browne yesterday despite giving a number of undertakings to the court.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court next Friday.