LAST UPDATE | 6 Jan

A MAN HAS appeared in court charged with the fatal assault of a 66-year-old father-of-two in Ardara, Co Donegal.

Stephen McCahill was killed at his home in the early hours of Monday morning.

Michael Maloney (32) of Loughros Point in Ardara appeared before Judge Ciaran Liddy at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court this evening.

The accused, a nephew of the late Mr McCahill by marriage, was charged that on 5 January, at Beagh, Ardara, he did murder Stephen McCahill.

The charge is Contrary to Common Law and as provided for by Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1964.

Maloney, dressed in a dark-coloured hoodie and baseball cap, was arrested at a separate location a short time after the body of Mr McCahill was found around 3.50am on January 5th.

He was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Donegal where he has questioned by detectives.

The accused, a popular musician with more than 15 million streams on Spotify, was handcuffed when brought into Letterkenny Courthouse flanked by detectives.

He will also be known to many for his hit song “What Do You Want To Know” which he performed at the Limerick hurling team’s All-Ireland homecoming celebration in 2023.

A number of senior members of An Garda Síochana based throughout Donegal were also present in court.

Detective Garda Patrick Kelly of Donegal Town Garda Station gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Maloney.

He told the court he arrested Maloney at 2.25pm and charged him at 3.35pm. He cautioned Maloney but the accused made no reply to the charge.

Solicitor for the accused man, Mr Mark Mullaney, made an application for legal aid stating that his client was in receipt of social welfare.

He also said his client does have a diagnosed psychiatric illness and requested he be given all daily medication in prison.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins asked the court to have the accused remanded in custody to appear by videolink to Letterkenny District Court next Monday, 12 January.

As the accused is charged with murder, there was no application for bail.

Maloney was taken from the court by detectives and will be detained at Castlerea Prison.

A post mortem was due to take place today on the late Mr McCahill.

No details of his funeral arrangements have yet been disclosed.

Numerous tributes have been made to Mr McCahill who co-owned the Corner House bar in Ardara and who was also an auctioneer.

Among the tributes was one from popstar Imelda May who was in Mr McCahill’s bar last Saturday night and who was pictured with the publican.

Donegal’s first All-Ireland GAA captain and Donegal County Councillor, Anthony Molloy, also paid tribute to Mr McCahill describing him as a true friend.

Mr McCahill is survived by his wife Marietta, his grown-up children Stephen and Gemma, extended family and a wide circle of friends.