Man charged in connection with violent death

A MAN has been charged in connection with the violent death of Finbarr Dennehy in Dublin last week.

Michael Downes, aged 41 and of no fixed home, appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday to face charges of assault causing serious harm.

Mr Dennehy, aged 50, was found in suspicious circumstances at his apartment in Clontarf, north Dublin last Wednesday.

A post mortem examination found that he died from a single stab wound.

Detective Sergeant Paul Slattery of Clontarf Garda Station said the accused had been released from custody just before noon yesterday and was re-arrested for the purposes of being charged.

He said Downes had nothing to say when charged with assault causing harm.

Downes had originally been arrested at 8pm on Saturday after gardaí tracked him to a guesthouse in Dublin’s city centre.

He was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows for 24 hours’ detention, excluding rest periods.

Sgt Slattery made an application to Judge Hugh O’Donnell that the address on the charge sheet be amended to say that the accused was of no fixed abode.

Wearing a grey tracksuit and brown runners, Downes sat quietly during the brief hearing.

There was no application for bail and Sgt Slattery asked that the accused be remanded in custody.

Judge O’Donnell remanded Downes to Cloverhill Prison to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Monday.

There was no objection to free legal aid being granted to the accused.