Bare knuckle boxing champion and movie star Michael McDonagh has been charged with the vicious murder of his wife Jacqueline.

The 33-year-old star of the movie Knuckle faces a lengthy jail sentence after he was charged at a special sitting of Dundalk District Court.

Mother-of-three Jacqueline was found dead at her Louth home in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Detective Garda Joe Ryan told the Dundalk court that when he arrested and charged the defendant at 11.15pm on Friday night, McDonagh replied: “I didn’t mean to kill her, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill anybody.”

Judge Denis McLoughlin remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill District Court next Friday.
Solicitor Cahir O’Higgins requested free legal aid for McDonagh which was granted by Judge McLoughlin.

The judge also recommended that McDonagh be medically examined and receive any appropriate medical treatment.

Lawyer O’Higgins told the hearing that his client was anxious to emphasise to the court that he had not meant to kill anybody.