A 32-year-old man has been charged in Perth, Western Australia, over the stabbing of a young Irish man last weekend.
Kenny Meyler (21), from Wexford, remains in a critical condition in Perth’s Sir Charles Gairdner hospital after suffering a stab wound to the neck on Sunday.
Vincent Martin Crowe, from the Perth suburb of Atwell, made a brief appearance in the Perth Magistrates' Court, charged with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Mr Crowe was not required to plead to the charge and was remanded to appear in court again later this month.
The alleged assault saw Mr Meyler stabbed in the neck with a large carving knife on Sunday afternoon at a house in Helmsley Street, in the coastal suburb of Scarborough.
Mr Meyler’s mother and two other relatives arrived in Perth last night at 5.30pm local time (9.30am Irish time). They were met by a family friend and police, who took them to the hospital.
Joan Ross, president of the Claddagh Association, a Perth-based Irish community organisation, had been in touch with the Meyler family before they flew to Australia.
“We let them know that if they needed any accommodation that we would sort that out for them, but they have a family friend and accommodation arranged,” Ms Ross told The Irish Times last night.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the Meyler family.
Before emigrating to Perth about two years ago, Mr Meyler had boxed at the Wexford CBS Boxing Club.
Club trainer Eddie Bolger said: "'It is a shock but hopefully he'll come through. I knew him in the club but he was more into the training end than competitive boxing.
"He would have sparred with all of the top boxers in the club, many of whom would have gone on to provincial and national success."
It is believed Mr Meyler was due to return home to Wexford in the coming months.
Police crime statistics show assaults in Scarborough have increased every year since 2010.
Local media has reported that residents speaking at a community forum last October said they were too scared to go to the beach on hot days because they feared they would be assaulted.
There were 136 assaults reported in Scarborough last year.