A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of former journalist and researcher Tom O'Gorman whose body was found badly mutilated in Dublin in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Italian national Saverio Bellante appeared in Blanchardstown District Court this morning where he was accused of killing the Irish man following a row over a chess match.
Mr Bellante – who works in a pharmaceutical company - lived at Beechpark Avenue in Castleknock as a tenant of Mr O'Gorman.
During today's court appearance, he announced that he wanted to legally represent himself.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear before Cloverhill District Court next Friday.
Mr O’Gormon, a 39, was found stabbed to death and mutilated at his north Dublin home.
The murder scene is said to have been so distressing that investigating gardai may require counselling.
He had worked as a researcher at catholic advocacy group the Iona Institute for the past seven years and was also a former journalist.
Detective Garda Patrick Traynor told the court that he arrested Mr Bellante at 11.33pm last night and when he was charged with Mr O'Gorman's murder he replied: "I am guilty."
Judge David McHugh instructed that Mr Bellante be medically assessed in custody.
No application for bail was made as bail in this case can only be granted in the High Court.
