Man charged after prisoner beaten to death with batteries-stuffed sock

A 33-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a prisoner in Mountjoy last year.

Twenty-six-year-old David Byrne from Sheriff Street in Dublin's inner city died in hospital after he was beaten with a sock stuffed with batteries in a row over a TV remote control in June 2009.

Alan Smith with an address at 19B Ballybough house, Ballybough Road, Dublin 3 made no reply when charged at Dublin District Court early today.

Judge David McHugh remanded him in custody to appear back in court on October 14.