Man in court over Longford assault

A man has appeared in court charged with assaulting another man in Longford on New Year's Eve.

A man has appeared in court charged with assaulting another man in Longford on New Year's Eve.

Martin McDonagh (23) of Mostrim Oaks, Ballymahon Road, Edgeworthstown, appeared before a special sitting of Longford District Court this morning.  He will be brought before the court again on January 5th.

Noel Keegan was walking from his home to meet friends for a drink at about 9.45pm on New Year’s Eve when he was involved in an altercation with two people.

The 59-year-old, who is believed to have suffered several blows, was treated at the scene but died a short time later.

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It is understood Mr Keegan, a father of three, suffered from an underlying heart condition.

A man and a woman, both in their early twenties, were arrested at the scene.

The woman and man were being questioned at Longford Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The woman was released last night and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A postmortem was carried out on Mr Keegan's remains by assistant State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis at Midland Regional Hospital.