Farah Redouane, a Moroccan national with an address at the Sarsfield Inn Hostel in Limerick, was charged with the murder of 17-year-old Somali national Ali Ibraham Lal.
The court was told the accused was an asylum applicant. He was granted free legal aid.
Mr Redouane was remanded in custody to appear before the District Court again on 30 January.
Judge Aneas McCarthy requested that an interpreter be present on that date.
He also ordered that Mr Redouane receive whatever medical attention he needed while in custody.
