Man, 23, charged over fatal assault of asylum seeker in Dublin city centre after arrest in Belfast trying to board ferry

A MAN has been charged with the murder of an asylum seeker in Dublin and is due to appear in court tomorrow.

Quham Babatunde, 34, died after he was stabbed in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

Mr Babatunde, from Nigeria, was found unresponsive by gardai at the scene after a row at a music event broke out between two groups of people.

A second man was also seriously injured in the incident, which took place on South Anne Street and Duke Lane in Dublin 2.

Mr Babatunde was treated by emergency services personnel and rushed to St James’ Hospital but pronounced dead a short time later.

He had been living in Ballyogan IPAS accommodation centre, south of Dublin city.

Two people have since appeared in court over the incident – 21-year-old Jeffrey Bangu and Rory Carr, also 21.

A third person was arrested by the PSNI in Belfast shortly before boarding a ferry there and is currently detained at a police station in Northern Ireland.

He has now been charged with murder and is due to appear in court on Friday.

The PSNI said in a statement today: “A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder.

“He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday 21st February.

“As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

Gardai added in a statement: “The man (aged 23 years) arrested in Belfast by the PSNI on Sunday 16th February 2025, in connection with a fatal assault in the South Anne Street/Duke Lane Upper area of Dublin in the early hours of Saturday 15th February, 2025, has since been charged.

“He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow, Friday 21st February 2025.”

Accused Jeffrey Bangu, of Cardy Rock Crescent, Balbriggan, Dublin, was before Dublin District Court on Tuesday morning charged with assault causing harm on Mr Babatunde.

He also faces raps for assaulting another man, named on the charge sheet as Adetola Adetuilehim, also causing him harm.

His final two charges are violent disorder offences, producing a knife in the course of a fight and using or threatening to use violence.

The offences are contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act and the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.

The accused was granted legal aid after the judge was told he is unemployed.

Mr Bangu was remanded in custody until February 25, when he will appear via video link for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Rory Carr, of Ard na Greine, Seapoint Lane, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Carr was charged with assault causing harm to Mr Babatunde and Adetola Adetuilehim at Anne Street South.

He is also charged with engaging in violent disorder with persons unknown.

Judge Murphy remanded Mr Carr in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on February 26 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.