A man has been charged with the murder of a father of one who was stabbed outside his parents’ home yesterday morning.
Richard Donovan (22) of the Unofficial Halting Site, Kilcruttin, Tullamore appeared before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court tonight.
Det Sgt John Walsh said that when charged at 5.02pm today, Donovan replied "I'm sorry for what I done."
Donovan sat between two gardaí during the hearing which lasted just minutes. He did not raise his head or speak.
No bail application was made and he was granted legal aid. He will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.
There was a crowd of several dozen people gathered outside the courthouse grounds, mostly in a car park and park across from the building where the hearing took place. There was a significant garda presence.
Derek McDonagh of Callery St, Tullamore was visiting his parents Anthony and Teresa at their home when the altercation which gardaí say involved up to ten men took place in broad daylight just yards from a busy primary school.
One of ten children, he died shortly after being taken to hospital with stab wounds sustained in the assault which happened at around 11am. His wife Kathleen is expecting their second child.
A mobile home was set on fire in the Kilcruttin halting site just hours after Mr McDonagh's death.
A post mortem was carried out by State Pathologist Marie Cassidy yesterday evening and the body was released to Mr McDonagh's family tonight.
His removal will take place tomorrow.
Two other men who were in custody since the incident were released without charge and files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.