Man charged with wife's murder in Dundalk

The husband of mother-of-three Jacqueline McDonagh has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Thirty-three-year-old Michael McDonagh from College Manor Dundalk was brought before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court this afternoon.

Jacqueline McDonagh (34) was found beaten to death in her home at College Manor, Dundalk in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Det Garda Joe Ryan told the court that when he arrested and charged the defendant at 11.15pm last night, McDonagh replied: "I didn’t mean to kill her, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill anybody."

Judge Denis McLoughlin remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill District Court next Friday.

Michael McDonagh will also be medically examined and will receive free legal aid.

There was some tension in court as a small group of the dead woman’s relatives shouted abuse at Mr McDonagh before and after his appearance in court.