Youth held over fatal stabbing of man at weekend

A TEENAGER was being questioned last night after a father-of-two was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack outside a pub in west Dublin on Hallowe'en night.

Michael Murphy, a 31-year-old from Blanchardstown, was stabbed 12 times in the face and chest during an incident described as "savage and frightening" by gardaí.

The 18-year-old was arrested early yesterday after gardaí launched a murder investigation. He is being questioned in Blanchardstown Garda Station.

The murder was one of a number of incidents during a violent Hallowe'en weekend that saw three other people stabbed, a man fighting for his life after being severely beaten, a house burned down by arsonists and many others nursing severe injuries caused by fireworks and bonfires.

Gardaí in Blanchardstown launched their murder investigation following the death at 4am yesterday of Mr Murphy, from Fortlawn Avenue in the west Dublin district.

He was repeatedly stabbed during an incident that began shortly before midnight outside the Buddha Bar and spilled across the McDonald's fast food restaurant.

There were a number of people in the area and some came to Mr Murphy's aid as he lay dying on the ground. But gardaí are appealing for more witnesses to come forward.

Detectives have already spoken to a number of people and are also examining CCTV footage from the scene. Mr Murphy was brought to James Connolly Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead around 4am.

Three other men were also stabbed over the weekend. A 29-year-old is recovering in hospital after being attacked in Ballymun, north Dublin. The stabbing happened around 5am.

A man in his 20s was stabbed in Arklow, Co Wicklow, early yesterday. He was walking along the Main Street at 3am when he was attacked. His injuries are not life threatening.

Early on Sunday, a 42-year-old was stabbed in Limerick. He is said to be in a critical condition in Limerick Regional Hospital. The incident happened at Owenmore Drive, Raheen, around 1am.

A 24-year-old man was seriously assaulted in Co Louth yesterday morning.

He was attacked by three men outside a pub in Dundalk at around 2.30am. He is being treated at Louth County Hospital.

Hospitals had to deal with dozens of injuries caused by bonfires and fireworks over the weekend.

Dr Patricia Eadie, consultant plastic surgeon at St James and Crumlin hospitals, said five people were taken in on Hallowe'en with serious burn injuries to the face and hands.

A child had his finger amputated after it was blown off by a firework, an adult suffered a shattered hand, a perforated ear and an eye injury when an explosive device blew up close to him.

Doctors also treated a teenager who attempted to build an explosive device with a lead pipe and powder from shotgun cartridges. He lost a number of his fingers, said Dr Eadie. "The severity of the injuries are worse this year," she said.