Updated at 5.14pm

A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY has been charged with the manslaughter of Dovydas Jenkus in Claremorris, Co Mayo, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared before a special sitting of Castlebar District Court this afternoon where he was charged with manslaughter.

The youth, a Lithuanian national, was granted bail under house arrest by Judge Mary Devins to appear before Ballina District Court on Tuesday next where the issue of bail will again be argued.

The youth appeared in the court with his mother while members of Dovydas Jenkus’s family were also in court.

Detective Sergeant James Carroll outlined three objections to bail on behalf of the state. They were: that he was a potential flight risk; the serious nature of the charge; and the likely sentence on conviction.

‘A bad thing’

Defending solicitor Evan O’Dwyer applied for bail. The defendant and his mother both gave testimony that he would remain in the country and face the charge.

The defendant said he was sorry for what happened and said he would not leave the country, saying it would be ‘the wrong thing to do’.

He added he had done ‘a bad thing’.

The court heard the defendant was a high achiever in school and that he, his mother and his sister have lived in Ireland since 2010. His father is estranged from the family, the court heard.

Dovydas Jenkus was fatally stabbed in an incident which occurred in the back garden of a house in the Claremount Manor estate on the Knock Road in Claremorris in the early hours of Saturday morning. He died at the scene.

The scene was sealed off and a forensic examination took place. The court heard it remains sealed off today.

Dovydas Jenkus, also a Lithuanian national, was a fifth year student at St Colman’s College in Claremorris. The accused is a third year student, the court heard.

By Edwin McGreal. Read more at The Mayo News. 

Comments are closed the case is currently before the courts. Originally published 1.34pm

Previously: Gardaí question 16 year old arrested after fatal assault on teenager >