A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of an off-duty taxi driver in northwest Dublin last week.
Carlos Byrne, Linnetsfield Square, Clonee, appeared before a sitting of Dublin District Court on Saturday to face charges relating to the death of Mark Smyth.
Mr Smyth, a 31-year-old father of one, was stabbed repeatedly in an attack in Blanchardstown just after 10pm on Tuesday. He died from his injuries at the scene of the incident.
Sgt Michael Kennedy of Blanchardstown Garda station gave evidence in court of arresting Mr Byrne at 11.10pm on Friday night at Blanchardstown Garda station.
He told the court that when the charge of murder was put to Mr Byrne, he replied "I'm sorry".
Judge Brian Lindsay remanded the accused in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday next at 10.30am.
Mr Smyth was originally from Ballymun, Dublin, but had been living in the Hawthorns, Duleek, Co Meath, in recent years.
He left his home on Tuesday night and went to Clonee to collect a couple he knew. Mr Smyth's partner and their 18-month-old son travelled in the car for the journey.
Mr Smyth collected the couple at their home in Clonee and brought them to a relative's house in the Fortlawn area of Blanchardstown.
However, when the car arrived in Fortlawn a row broke out in the vehicle and Mr Smyth was attacked by at least one of his passengers. He got out of his car and tried to run to safety but was pursued.
His attacker caught up with him about 100 metres from his taxi and stabbed him several times. A local resident ran to his aid.
However, Mr Smyth's injuries were so severe that he died at the scene just after 10pm. The couple he had carried from Clonee fled the scene.
On Thursday at 6.30pm a large team of gardaí, acting on intelligence, went to a hotel in the vicinity of Dublin airport where they understood the couple had checked in.
Mr Byrne and a 25-year-old woman both gave themselves up. The woman was detained and questioned as part of the investigation.
She was released from Garda custody without charge in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A file on the woman is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
