Man remanded on murder charge

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Joanne Mangan (20), who died following a knife attack at a house near …

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Joanne Mangan (20), who died following a knife attack at a house near the village of Grange, Co Tipperary, early on Tuesday morning.

Kevin Prendergast (30), an unemployed father-of-two, with an address at Knockeen, Grange, Clonmel, was also charged with assault causing serious harm to Ms Mangan's brother Eddie (23).

The charges arose from an incident at a rented house in Ballynamuddagh, between the villages of Newcastle and Grange, about 9.6km (6 miles) from Clonmel, during the early hours of Tuesday. It is believed Ms Mangan was found alive outside the house and was taken by car to Clonmel hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mr Mangan, who was also stabbed, was taken to Clonmel hospital and later transferred to Cork University Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

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Sgt Patrick Walsh told Cashel District Court that when he charged Mr Prendergast with both offences at 8am yesterday, he made no reply.

Mr Prendergast was represented by solicitor Philip English who requested and was granted free legal aid for his client.

Judge Terence Finn remanded Mr Prendergast in custody to Limerick Prison and ordered that he be returned to Clonmel District Court next Tuesday.

Mr Prendergast, dressed in a beige jumper, blue tracksuit pants and trainers, did not speak during the short hearing in a packed courtroom where there was standing-room only.

He was taken in handcuffs to a Garda car. As the car accelerated away from the courthouse a garda was knocked to the ground, but did not appear to be hurt.