The mother of a Chinese student who was stabbed to death in Dublin broke down in court today at the loss of her only son.
Chun Xiang Zhang wept as she told the inquest she immediately flew to Ireland after she was informed of the death of Zhi Song (23).
Mr Zhi Song was fatally wounded after interrupting an intruder at the house he shared with five other Chinese nationals in Reuben Avenue, Rialto, on June 29th.
Dr Michael Curtis, the deputy state pathologist, confirmed a stab wound to the chest caused the death of the student, who worked as a kitchen porter at a restaurant in St Stephen's Green.
His mother, who was accompanied by her husband Ji Dong Song, told the Dublin City Coroner's Court that her son was educated to high school level before he travelled to Ireland in 2002.
"He went to Ireland to study the English language," she said, through a statement read out in court. "On July 1st, 2005, I was notified by the Chinese authorities and I was contacted later that day by the Irish police with an interpreter telling me the sad news of Zhi Song."
Derek Wade (25), from Church Avenue, Rialto, has been charged in Kilmainham District Court with killing Zhi Song contrary to common law.
The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, told the family through an interpreter: "Our whole community has been shocked and saddened at the death of Zhi Song. I hope and pray that in some way Mr and Mrs Song will be able to find strength to bear this, the death of their only son in the circumstances that will be looked at by the courts."
Det Sgt Joseph Crowe from Kilmainham Station told the court the Department of Justice was making the arrangements to repatriate the body to their home province of Dalian in China.
The Department of Justice has agreed to meet the €10,000 cost of repatriating the body as the Songs' case was one of extreme hardship.
The retired parents, who only have a small income each month, borrowed money to travel to Ireland after Mr Zhi's death. The parents said they would have been depending on their son's future income to support them.
Members of the public raised over €30,000 for the parents to help them survive and pay for their expensive trip to Ireland after the Chinese Information Centre opened a bank account for the couple.