Ireland Man charged with murder of Ion Daghi in Sallins, Co Kildare
Valeriu Melnic, 23, of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, has been charged with the murder of Ion Daghi, 39, who was originally from Moldova. Mr Daghi was found with a single stab wound to the chest at a house in Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, in the early hours of Sunday 12 May 2024, after a row at a family gathering. Gardaí arrested a man in his early 20s at the scene, and he was charged and appeared before a special sitting of Naas District Court late on Monday 13 May, where he was remanded in custody and a psychological report was ordered. The case is next before Naas District Court by video-link on Thursday 16 May.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested12 May
5 reports - Charged12 May
- In court14 May
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ion Daghi, 39, was found dead with a single stab wound to the chest at a property in Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare.
- Ion Daghi was originally from Moldova, lived in Sallins with his family, and worked as a roofer or in construction; sources differ on whether he was a father of two or three.
- Where
- The stabbing happened at the back of a house in The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare.
- When
- Gardaí were alerted at about 3.15am on Sunday 12 May 2024, and Mr Daghi was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.
- Weapon
- Mr Daghi was stabbed once in the chest with a 30cm knife, which it will be alleged was taken from the kitchen.
- Cause
- Gardaí believe the fatal wounding followed a dispute at a family gathering at the house, and the row reignited at about 3am.
- Investigation
- A man in his early 20s was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Naas Garda Station, and was reportedly known to the victim.
- Gardaí launched a murder investigation, appointed a senior investigating officer, and set up an incident room at Naas Garda Station.
- Charges
- Valeriu Melnic, 23, was charged with murdering Ion Daghi; garda.ie reported the charge on 12 May, and the Irish Times reported he was charged before court on 13 May.
- In court
- Melnic appeared before a special sitting of Naas District Court at about 11pm on Monday 13 May 2024, where he remained silent after being charged.
- The judge remanded Melnic into custody on the Monday night and ordered a psychological report at the request of a defence solicitor.
- Melnic is due to appear again before Naas District Court by video-link on Thursday 16 May 2024.
- Other details
- A fundraiser was launched on 14 May to repatriate Mr Daghi's remains to Moldova, and the funeral will take place there.
87 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA fatal assault occurred at a residence in Sallins, Co. Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was found with fatal injuries. (garda.ie)
- whatThe victim was a 39-year-old man who was originally from Moldova. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was struck once in the chest. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after gardaí arrived. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIon Daghi was stabbed in the chest. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA father of young children was stabbed to death in a house in Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man was found dead at a property in the Sallins Park area of Sallins, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fatal assault took place at a residence in Sallins, Co. Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at a residence in Sallins, County Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whereGardaí were alerted to a residential property in Sallins Park, Sallins. (garda.ie)
- whereThe man was stabbed at the back of a house in Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe property is in a small cul de sac in The Close in Sallins Park. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe stabbing happened at the back of a house in Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe suspect was arrested at the scene in Sallins. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident happened at The Close, Sallins Park. (irishtimes.com)
- whereIon Daghi was killed in Sallins, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereIon Daghi was found stabbed to death in Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was found at his home in Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe man was found dead in the early hours of Sunday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí and emergency services were alerted shortly after 3:15am. (irishmirror.ie, garda.ie)
- whenThe fatal assault took place on Sunday 12 May 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on Sunday, May 12th, 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenGardaí were alerted to the scene at 3:15am. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe stabbing happened in the early hours of Sunday 12 May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fatal attack happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí were alerted at about 3.15am on Sunday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe death happened on a Sunday in Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whenIon Daghi was fatally stabbed on the night of 12 May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was found in the early hours of a Sunday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was fatally stabbed on the night of 12 May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí suspect the victim was stabbed. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe incident followed a suspected row during a late night party at the house. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe stabbing followed a suspected row with a man known to the victim during a late-night party at the house. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe the fatal wounding followed a dispute with a man known to the victim at a social gathering. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA dispute arose between the accused and the deceased, who had been drinking whiskey. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe stabbing followed a suspected row at a party at his home in Sallins Park. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeHe had a single stab wound to his chest. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe victim was stabbed. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponIon Daghi was stabbed once in the chest with a 30cm-long knife. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponIon Daghi was stabbed once in the chest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí have launched a murder investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA senior investigating officer has been appointed and an incident room set up at Naas Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being questioned at a Naas Garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationA man in his early 20s was arrested at the property. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man arrested is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Kildare. (garda.ie)
- investigationA senior investigating officer has been appointed and an incident room has been set up at Naas Garda Station. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a 23-year-old man. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is understood to have known the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí were alerted to the incident at 3:15am. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his 30s was found with fatal injuries and pronounced dead at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí launched a murder investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man was reportedly known to the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí reportedly are not looking for anyone else at this time. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are following a definite line of inquiry. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn incident room has been established at Naas Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIt will be alleged that the defendant went to the kitchen and took a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGardaí have charged the arrested man in relation to the incident. (garda.ie)
- chargeMelnic has been charged with murdering his brother-in-law. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeValeriu Melnic was charged with the murder of Ion Daghi. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeValeriu Melnic was charged with Mr Daghi's murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man is due to appear before a special sitting of Naas District Court on Monday 13 May 2024 at 11pm. (garda.ie)
- courtMelnic appeared before Naas District Court late on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge ordered a psychological report at the request of a defence solicitor. (irishtimes.com)
- courtValeriu Melnic appeared before a special sitting of Naas District Court at around 11pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtValeriu Melnic is due to appear at Naas District Court again on Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared before Naas District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded into custody on the Monday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMelnic was remanded in custody to appear in court again on Thursday by video-link. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man in his early 20s was arrested at the property and is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. (garda.ie)
- otherA Garda Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to keep the deceased's family informed. (garda.ie)
- otherThe body has been preserved at the scene for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau, and a post-mortem is being prepared. (garda.ie)
- otherThe suspect was at the property for a social gathering with the victim and others. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim had been living in Sallins with his family and working in construction. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAnother man present, aged 23, was arrested at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man arrested was being held for questioning at Naas Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe incident was alleged to have happened at a family gathering attended by five adults and three children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe row calmed down but reignited at about 3am. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe deceased's 12-year-old daughter called the emergency services. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA fundraiser has been launched to repatriate the remains of Ion Daghi. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIon Daghi was a father-of-three aged 39. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe funeral will take place in Moldova, his native country. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 May2024Wife of man stabbed to death in Kildare pays emotional tribute
Wife's tribute to the victim. Names the accused and the court appearance, and adds details of the funeral in Moldova and a repatriation fundraiser.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ion Daghiaccused, Valeriu Melnic, 23, named, non-irish (judged from name)Valeriu Melnic - 14 May2024Family of man stabbed to death in Kildare 'don't know how to live on'
Adds a fundraiser to repatriate the victim's remains to Moldova, details of the suspected row at a party, the charge against Melnic, his court appearance and the next hearing date.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, maleIon Daghiaccused, Valeriu Melnic, 23, male, namedValeriu Melnic - 14 May2024Man (23) charged with murdering his brother-in-law in Sallins, Co Kildare
Adds the court appearance at Naas District Court, the alleged sequence of events (a dispute reigniting around 3am and a knife taken from the kitchen), the remand in custody, and the ordered psychological report.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ion Daghiaccused, Valeriu Melnic, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Valeriu Melnic - 13 May2024Man (39) stabbed to death in Kildare was father of young children
Earlier report from before any charge. It confirms the suspect was arrested at the scene and held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, names the victim as Ion Daghi (39), and says he was originally from Moldova. The article does not name the suspect and does not say whether he was charged.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ion Daghisuspect, 23, male - 12 May2024Kildare stabbing victim named as gardaí launch murder investigation
Adds that the suspect was arrested at the property and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, that he was reportedly known to the victim, and that the alleged cause was a row during a late-night party. The case in the list is already at court stage, so this article is older follow-up detail about the arrest stage.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, maleIon Daghisuspect, 23, male - 12 May2024Garda murder probe as man dies 'after being stabbed in chest during party'
Early report of the Sallins stabbing. It adds that the victim was originally from Moldova, that the suspected row happened during a party, that gardaí were alerted at 3:15am, and that a 23-year-old man was arrested and detained. No charge is reported yet.
victim, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, 23, male - 12 May2024Fatal Assault Sallins County Kildare - Sunday May 12th 2024
Garda press release confirming the death of a man in his 30s in Sallins and the arrest of a man in his early 20s, who is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. It adds that a senior investigating officer and an incident room at Naas Garda Station are in place, and that a Family Liaison Officer is assigned to the deceased's family. It does not name the victim or the suspect.
victim, 30s, malesuspect, early 20s, male - 12 May2024Court Appearance Fatal Assault, Sallins, Co. Kildare. 12th May, 2024.
Official garda.ie release confirming a man in his early 20s has been charged over the fatal assault and is due before a special sitting of Naas District Court at 11pm on 13 May 2024. The release names no one and gives no cause or weapon.
accused, early 20s, male - 12 May2024Gardai launch murder investigation as man found dead following suspected assault
Adds that the body was found in the Sallins Park area, that gardaí suspect a stabbing, that a man in his early 20s was arrested and detained at Naas Garda station, and that a senior investigating officer and incident room have been set up. The victim is not named in this article.
victim, 30s, malesuspect, early 20s, male