Two men charged with Limerick city ‘house party’ murder

Two men have appeared in court in Limerick charged with the murder of a 26-year-old man who died after he was assaulted at a house party earlier this year.

Shane Murphy, who was from Lee Estate in Limerick city, died after he was stabbed a number of times while attending a house party in Pallasgreen Co Limerick on April 30th last.

Gerard Hogan (32) of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, and Dylan Hayes (20) who has an address at The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick, are both charged with the murder of Mr Murphy at a house in The Grove Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, on April 30th last.

The men were previously charged with assaulting the 26-year-old and producing a knife in the course of the alleged assault.

Both men appeared before Limerick District Court on Tuesday where Sgt Adrian Whelan applied to have the older charges withdrawn.

Sgt Ted Riordan gave evidence of formally charging Dylan Hayes at Merchant's Quay, Limerick, on Tuesday morning.

The court heard the 20-year-old replied: “You are charging an innocent man” in response to the charge.

Solicitor Sarah Ryan was assigned to represent Mr Hayes who had to be restrained after he began shouting abuse following a brief scuffle with gardaí and prison officers during his brief court appearance.

Det Sgt Michael Reidy gave evidence of arresting and formally charging Gerard Hogan whom he court heard made no reply to the charge.

Referring to a previous delay with DPP directions in respect of the older charges Mr Hogan's solicitor John Devane asked the State comply with the law and produce the Book of Evidence within the approved period on the new charges.

Judge Marian O’Leary remanded both men in custody to appear before the same court again via video link on Wednesday.