A man has been charged with the murder of his grandfather in Co Donegal just days before last Christmas.

Derek Mulligan was brought before Letterkenny District Court today.

Detective Garda Paul Dolan told the court that he arrested the 36-year-old and put the charge to the accused who replied “no comment.”

Mulligan is charged that on 19 December 2023 at Carrickaboyle, Derrybeg, he did murder one Derek Burns.

The court was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented for all matters to be sent forward to the Central Criminal Court for trial. A charge of Section 4 Assault Causing Serious Harm was withdrawn before Judge Eiteain Cunningham.

Members of Mulligan’s family were in court for the hearing.

Burns, who was in his 70s, passed away at Letterkenny University Hospital a number of days after the assault last December. The pensioner was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital but subsequently died from his injuries.

On 19 December, Detective Garda Paul Dolan gave evidence of arresting and charging Mulligan. The accused is also charged on the same date and place did cause criminal damage to a red Nissan Qashqai.

Mulligan, of Magheraclogher, Bunbeg is also charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a person known to him. On the same date and location he is also charged with assaulting another person also known to him.

He is also charged with the assault of a third person on the same date and at the same location. At today’s court appearance, solicitor for the accused, Rory O’Brien, said that bail was not being applied for.

The case was adjourned until next week by video link. A book of evidence in the case is expected to take a month to compile and will be brought before the court again at a future date.