A MAN was tonight charged with the murder of a County Durham motorist who died days after an apparent road rage attack in Dublin.

Karl Donohoe was previously charged with assault causing serious harm to construction worker Raymond Bates in September last year.

A judge at the District Court in Dublin struck out the lesser count as the State applied to charge the accused with murder, the Court Service confirmed.

The 29-year-old suspect, of Bealing Village, Tyrellstown, west Dublin, was remanded in custody until January 21.

Father-of-three Mr Bates, from Dinting Close, Peterlee, died in hospital four days after allegedly being beaten around the head with a hurley stick on September 26.

It is believed he was involved in a row with another motorist after driving off from traffic lights in Sandymount, south Dublin.

Mr Donohoe, a crane driver, was first charged in connection with the attack on October 12.

Mr Bates, 49, was thought to have been living and working as a contractor in the Irish capital for several months before the alleged attack.