Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Two young men involved in a feud between rival families have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of 51-year- old grandfather in Cork.
The men, one of whom is in his late teens and the other in his early 20s, were arrested on the southside of the city in connection with the death of Gerard Delaney.
The grandfather, who had no convictions for serious crime, had tried to keep himself out of a family feud with the Crinnion family and their associates.
He had been babysitting when he was informed that trouble had broken out between the factions.
Mr Delaney left his home in Mahon and went to the Manhattan Bar at Lower Friars Walk in Ballyphehane.
At about 12.15am on Dec 27 last, a fight involving up to 20 people started outside the pub.
Gardaí believe that baseball bats, pickaxe handles, and knives were used in the fight, during which Mr Delaney was beaten and stabbed a number of times in the head, neck and body.
He was rushed to Cork University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
An 18-year-old man and a woman in her 20s were also injured during the row and received treatment at Mercy University Hospital before being discharged.
Two men were arrested the same morning in relation to the incident but were later released without charge.
It is believed the fight was prompted by an "exchange of words" between the rival factions a few hours earlier at another bar a short distance away.
The feud between the Delaney and Crinnion factions has been going on for a number of years.
Robert Crinnion was recently jailed for 10 years for a slash-hook attack on Mr Delaney’s brother, Finbarr, in Feb 2010.
It is understood that the two young men arrested yesterday at different addresses in the Togher area are members of the Crinnion faction.
They were being detained at Mayfield Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Gardaí have stepped up patrols on the southside of the city to try and prevent any further violence.
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