An 18-year-old man who was remanded in custody last week after being charged with the murder of a Japanese man in Dundalk is undergoing treatment at the Central Mental Hospital.

Mohamed Morei was due to face his second hearing at Cloverhill District Court today, but when the case was called Judge Victor Blake was informed that he was not able to attend the hearing.

Defence counsel Aoife O'Halloran told the court that it was her understanding that Mr Morei "was not fit to attend".

Judge Blake said he had a letter from a forensic psychiatrist at the CMH, where the accused was undergoing medical treatment and he was unfit to attend the court hearing.

It was the doctor's opinion that Mr Morei would also be unfit to come to court in two weeks' time.

Mr Morei was remanded in custody last week after he was charged with the murder of 24-year-old Yosuke Sasaki on 3 January.

The Japanese national, who had been living in Ireland for the past year, was fatally stabbed on Avenue Road as he was on his way to work at National Pen.

Judge Blake adjourned the case until 25 January.