Man refused bail in cold case murder

A man charged over the 1998 murder of South Australian man Dale McCauley has been refused bail.

Adrian Mahony, 65, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court by video link on Tuesday with counsel asking for him to be released on home detention.

He was charged last week with the murder of Mr McCauley following a cold-case review by major crime detectives.

Mr McCauley was last seen at his Willunga home, south of Adelaide, in January 1998 and his remains have never been found.

Magistrate Paul Foley rejected the bail application because of the seriousness of the alleged offence.

Mahony will appear in court again on March 22.