A man has appeared before a special sitting of Kilkenny District Court today charged in connection with Wednesday’s stabbing at a shopping centre in the city.

Ger Dowling of 120 The Sycamores, Freshford Road, Kilkenny, appeared in court.

On Wednesday afternoon a man in his late 50s was stabbed a number of times around his head and arms in the Market Cross Shopping Centre in an unprovoked attack.

He was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries and the suspect was arrested just a few minutes later.

At 5.58pm yesterday evening 39-year-old Ger Dowling was charged with Assault Causing Harm and with Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

At this morning’s special court sitting the judge heard that Mr Dowling, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit, made no reply to either of the charges put to him.

His lawyer told the court that Mr Dowling has a 20-year history of mental health issues and has been a patient of St Luke’s Department of Psychiatry.

He was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison where a full psychiatric assessment will be carried out on his arrival.

There was no application for bail and he is to reappear before the court again next Tuesday July 19.