Donegal men facing murder charge in Australia

Two Donegal tourists accused of murdering a 66-year-old man in Sydney, will use intoxication as a major part in their defence, a court has heard.

Nathan Kelly, 22, and Christopher McLaughlin, 25, are alleged to have murdered Indigenous man, Paul William Tavelardis in the inner-western suburb of Summer Hill in December.

The Inishowen men, had been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm until Mr Tavelardis died in hospital in January and their charges were upgraded.

The pair appeared in the New South Wales Supreme Court on audio-visual link from a prison in Sydney's eastern suburbs, both wearing button-up prison-green polo shirts.

Neither entered a plea via their barrister, Margaret Cunneen.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton told Ms Cunneen it was clear that "very, very severe intoxication by alcohol" was a factor in the alleged crime.

Ms Fullerton added that there was "some degree of incapacity" by the two men at the time of the incident.

Attempts at setting a trial date in March, May or June, 2020 failed as the prosecution and defence have yet to agree on key facts regarding intoxication.

The pair will next appear in the same court on February 14, 2020.