A prominent republican has been charged in connection with the stabbing of a woman in a Christmas Eve attack in Co Cavan.
Gardaí on Saturday charged the man, aged in his 50s, as part of an investigation into the incident which occurred at a house in Kilnaleck on Wednesday.
The man was due to appear before a special sitting of Cavan District Court Saturday evening at 5pm. He was detained at Cavan Garda Station.
The man, a father of two, received medical attention in the same hospital where his alleged victim was gravely ill. He had sustained a facial injury and required treatment for ongoing health problems.
After his questioning was suspended to allow him to sleep, a decision was made to transfer him to hospital for treatment, until he was deemed well enough to be taken back to the Garda station.
Based on his past history linked to his time in the Provisional IRA, the suspect is regarded as a flight risk.
The victim of the attack, who is in her late 40s and is a mother of two young children is expected to survive.