A man who handed himself in after the shooting dead of another man in a taxi told detectives he could not live with what he had done, a court in Dundalk has heard.
Shane Rogers (32) of Deery Terrace, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, was charged with the murder of James Hughes, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, on Sunday morning.
Mr Hughes, a captain of Crossmaglen Rangers GAA club who had won three All-Ireland club medals with the team, was gunned down in a taxi at Cluain Ard, Lis na Mara estate in Dundalk, Co Louth.
His female friend Patricia Byrne and the taxi driver Anthony Callan were injured in the attack.
Dundalk District Court heard the accused was charged with the murder at Carrickmacross Garda Station in Co
Monaghan shortly after 9pm yesterday.
Sergeant Kieran Moore said when cautioned the defendant replied: "I apologise to him and to his family and friends and to Trish Byrne. I'm sorry for what I done.
"I cannot live with myself for doing this." Sgt Moore, of Carrickmacross Garda station, said the defendant contacted him by telephone on the morning of the murder, and voluntarily arranged to come into the station.
Mr Rogers stood in the courtroom dressed in a grey sweater, blue jeans and runners, with his head bowed throughout the short hearing.
Questioned by the defendant's solicitor Martin Crilly, Sgt Moore said Rogers was devastated and continually and
consistently remorseful throughout his detention.
"From the first moment I saw him he was very remorseful for what happened," he told the court.
"I found him truthful and he explained in full what happened." Sgt Moore agreed the accused was a suicide risk, judging by his demeanour and how he spoke.
Judge Flann Brennan remanded Mr Rogers in custody at Cloverhill Prison, in Dublin, until next Tuesday, December 20th. He directed that the accused get medical and psychiatric attention.
Before the end of the appearance, Mr Crilly said his client wished to express his absolute sorrow for what had happened.