A man charged with the murder of a "devoted family man" in Oldham has denied the allegation.

Lee Burns, of Worsley Street, Oldham, appeared at Manchester Crown Court today (Monday, February 26) having been charged with the murder of Vincent McDonagh, who was found unconscious on Abbey Hills Road on November 9 last year.

Now, Burns, 38, has denied the murder of the father and is set to go on trial in May.

Following the death of Mr McDonagh, 45, his partner and fiance, Demi, paid tribute to him, saying: “Vinny was an amazing fiancé, a loving dad and devoted family man.

"He was kind and helpful to everyone and nothing was ever too much to ask.

“He loved his little boy to pieces, he doted on him and would always make sure his had everything.

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"He loved his music and would always sing to me and his little boy, he was always making jokes and was the life of the party.

“He was from a big family in Ireland and had six brothers and seven sisters, and would always speak about their memories and his love for his dad Barney.

“Our lives are so empty without him, we cannot believe someone would just take him away.

"He will be missed so much, and we don’t know how to go on without him.

"We always used to say we loved each other to the moon and stars and now I won’t hear that from him again.”

On November 21, an inquest opening into the death of Mr McDonagh was held, where the court heard he was found unconscious with a serious head injury.

The court also heard Mr McDonagh was born in Dublin, Ireland, and was unemployed at the time of his death.

Police coroner’s officer Kathy Skelton told the court Mr McDonagh had been found by a passer-by, and was believed to be a victim of an assault.

Following today's hearing at Manchester Crown Court, Burns has been remanded in custody.