Man (40s) arrested in connection with murder of man (31) in Cork

Olivia Kelleher

A man in his forties has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 31-year-old father of one in Cork city.

The man is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Cork city.

He is being held in connection with the murder of the victim, a Ukrainian national who has lived in Ireland since he was a child.

The victim was stabbed in the Lower John Street/Knapps Square area at 7.50pm on Monday. He had left his home to get food at a nearby shop in the Shandon Street area.

The man managed to make his way home to his apartment in Camden Court on Carroll’s Quay. However, he collapsed at the property. His wife contacted the emergency services and gardaí.

Efforts were made to save him at the scene. However, he was pronounced dead at the property by a local doctor. A forensic examination of the scene was carried out.

A postmortem examination was carried out on Tuesday at Cork University Hospital by Dr Sally Anne Collis. The results have not been released for operational reasons. However, the death was upgraded to a murder probe.

Gardai have carried out door to door inquiries in the area. CCTV from the area is also being examined.

A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Watercourse Road Garda Station. A Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to support the family of the deceased.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward. In particular they would like to speak to taxi drivers and motorists who were in the area at the time.

Anyone who was in Devonshire Street, Knapps Square, Lower John Street areas of Cork city between 7.30pm and 9pm yesterday and who may have camera footage (including home security and dash-cam) is asked to provide this footage to investigating Gardaí.

Members of the public with information are asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on (021) 4558510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.