A 17-YEAR-OLD male has appeared before Dublin District Court charged with murdering a Polish man in Drimnagh three weeks ago.
The youth, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was charged with the murder of Pawel Kalite on Benbulben Road, Drimnagh, on Saturday, February 23rd.
Mr Kalite (29) and his friend Marius Szwajkos (27) were stabbed in the throat and head with a screwdriver after they became involved in an argument with teenagers outside shops on Benbulben Road, a short distance from where they lived.
Mr Szwajkos died from his injuries in St James's Hospital the following Monday, with Mr Kalite losing his struggle for life at the same hospital in the early hours of February 28th.
The accused teenager, who is from the south-east inner city area of Dublin, appeared before a brief sitting of Dublin District Court at Court 46 in the Bridewell, on Saturday morning.
Det Garda Eamon Maloney told the court he arrested the accused at 10.24pm on Friday night at Crumlin Garda station, in the presence of his father.
The youth was then charged with the offence at 11.05pm.
Det Maloney told the court that when the young man was cautioned, he was invited to make a reply, to which he answered "no".
Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick was asked by investigating gardaí to remand the accused in custody until a sitting of the juvenile court on Wednesday.
He agreed to do so, and remanded the teenager to St Patrick's Institution in Dublin.
Solicitor for the accused, Ciara McCann, made an application for free legal aid for the accused.
Judge Fitzpatrick said that given "the gravity of the alleged offence", free legal aid would be granted.
The youth remained on his feet throughout the hearing, which lasted less than five minutes.
His parents were present in court.
Three other teenagers, including two males aged 19 and 15 years and a 14-year-old girl, were also held for questioning in relation to the incident in the days after the victims died.
They were all subsequently released without charge.
