A 26-year-old man has been charged with the murder of two elderly brothers in their Castlebar home on Wednesday.

Locals screamed abuse at Alan Cawley, with an address at Four Winds, Corrimbla, Ballina, as he entered Swinford District Court on Friday morning, RTE reports.

He has been charged with the murders of 76-year-old Jack and 69-year-old Tommy Blaine who were found dead in their home at New Antrim Street, Castlebar early Wednesday morning.

Both men had physical disabilities and were mentally impaired, Jack was deaf and also suffered from a bad speech impediment.

One of the victims was found inside the house on New Antrim Street by a home help nurse who worked for the men, while the second body was discovered in the backyard. Both victims suffered a violent death.

Sergeant Walsh told the court when details of the charges were read out to Cawley in police custody, he said: “I am sorry for all the torture I put people through.”

Defence attorney Niamh Bambury, asked that the accused be psychiatrically assessed in prison and closely monitored.

The accused's parents were present in court and his mother wept as the charges were delivered, the Irish Mirror reports.

Judge Devins remanded Cawley in custody to appear before Harristown District Court, Co Roscommon, next Friday, July 19.

The funerals of the Blaine brothers are due to take place in Castlebar on Monday.

Irish leader Enda Kenny, whose constituency office is just doors down from the victims home, described the double murder as an act of savagery.