An Irish man who once donated a kidney to a woman he had never met was stabbed to death by a neighbour in London after a late-night row, a British court heard on Wednesday.
Darryn Madigan (38), of Doreen Avenue, Kingsbury, is accused of murdering John Martin (41) in the early hours of Sunday, August 7th.
Mr Martin, a carpenter who was originally from Co Meath, had been making his way home from a pub in Kingsbury with his girlfriend when he was attacked on Doreen Avenue, Kingsbury.
He suffered two deep stab wounds to his side and, despite the efforts of emergency services, was pronounced dead at the scene of the attack.
His body was found on the front lawn of his block of flats.
Murder charge
Madigan appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday charged with one count of murder.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC said: “The deceased and Mr Madigan are both residents in flats next door to each other in Kingsbury.
“The allegation is that the deceased returned from a night out with his partner by minicab and a dispute broke out between John Martin and the defendant – the defendant being in the upstairs flat looking out of the bedroom window.
“The allegation is that he left his property and came downstairs armed with a kitchen knife.”
Mr Madigan appeared via video-link in a blue T-shirt, and spoke only to confirm his name during the brief hearing.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC remanded him in custody ahead of his trial on January 30th next year.
Following Mr Martin’s death, it emerged he once donated a kidney to a woman he had never met after seeing her advert in the paper.
He went straight to a hospital to see if he was a match for her and immediately volunteered for the surgery.
His parents, Noel and Mary Martin, are part of a well-known GAA family in Donore.