An Irish man has been charged with murder of an Irish woman in Melbourne, Australia.

The 45-year-old appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via video link and has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance in February.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene in Ferntree Gully yesterday, a surburb located about 30 km outside the centre of Melbourne.

The woman, who is understood to be a young mother, has yet to be formally identified

Police in Victoria say the pair were known to each other. The man was arrested nearby and has since been remanded in custody

Local police said emergency services were called to the residence in Ferntree Gully shortly before 10am local time (1am Irish time) on Friday, where they located an injured woman.

Despite efforts to revive the woman she was declared deceased at the scene,

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it’s aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases”