A man charged with murdering his elderly neighbour has been charged with aggravated murder, as authorities seek to determine if the death was a homicide or a premeditated attack.

The man, aged in his 70s, was taken into custody at his home in the west of Dublin late on Friday.

He was remanded in custody pending further inquiries.

A spokeswoman for the State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed that it had been charged after a review of the evidence against Mr Dickey, a former car rental company worker.

She said the investigation was continuing and that there had been no attempt to hide the circumstances of the death.

She added: “I would like to thank the families and friends of the deceased and their loved ones for their continued support throughout the investigation.”

A post-mortem examination on the body was due to take place later this week.

Mr Dickey’s widow, Joan Dickey said she had no idea what had happened to her husband.

She told the Irish Independent she was “shocked and upset” by the alleged incident.

“My husband was a wonderful, generous, kind, funny, generous man.

He was an incredible husband and father,” she said.

The couple were married in 1987 and had three children.