Man appears in court charged in connection with Cork murder of dad-of-one John Ustic

A man was today charged in connection with the murder of a father of one found with serious head injuries in a car park.

Thomas Fitchett, 32, of The Moorings in Skibbereen, Cork, appeared before Clonakilty District Court this morning.

He was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another for the murder in Skibbereen of 51-year-old Jonathan (John) Ustic on September 24, 2017.

The charge states that Fitchett impeded the apprehension of another person not before the courts for the murder.

Mr Ustic was found with head injuries in a car park not far from his house on High Street in Skibbereen.

Gardai at the scene of a suspicious death in Skibbereen (Anne Minihane/Provision)

Pathologist Marie Cassidy and forensic detectives examine the scene in Skibbereen (Provision)

He managed to make it back to his rented home, where he died.

Det Garda Daniel Lordan gave evidence of charging Fitchett, who made no reply when it was put to him after caution.

Sgt Paul Kelly said that the DPP had directed that Fitchett should be tried on indictment on the impeding charge at the Central Criminal Court.

Defence solicitor Eamon Fleming said that he planned to make a bail application for his client at the High Court later this week.

Gardai at the scene of a suspicious death in Skibbereen (Anne Minihane/Provision)

Judge James McNulty remanded the accused in custody to appear again at Skibbereen District Court on November 12.

Free legal aid was granted in the case as Fitchitt is in receipt of a Government jobs subsidy.

Mr Ustic was a native of Cornwall in the UK who moved to Ireland in 2005. He was well known in the local community.