Murder inquiry launched as intruders stab Latvian man in his home

A MURDER inquiry was under way last night after a Latvian man was stabbed following a row in Dublin.

The 25-year-old, who has not been named, was attacked after two people got into his house in the Artane area yesterday morning. A woman who shares the house with the man was so terrified during the row she locked herself in her bedroom, gardaí said.

She raised the alarm by ringing her boyfriend, who had earlier left the house for work. He alerted gardaí.

Superintendent Noel McLoughlin, who is leading the murder inquiry, appealed to members of the Latvian community for help. He said: “Members of Ireland’s Latvian community have been helpful in the past to us so we would like their help again.

“We also need to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious person or vehicle in the Ardcollum Avenue area between 7.30am and 9am. People have already been very helpful to us.” The man is originally from the Latvian capital of Riga and had been working in Ireland since last July.

His passport details have been forwarded to the Latvian Embassy where staff are trying to trace his relations.

Gardaí are unsure if the dead man had family here. He lived in a semi-detached house in Ardcollum Avenue with other people from eastern Europe. All of them were in employment.

Supt McLoughlin said the man died after a struggle in the upstairs of the house. He received stab wounds and was taken to Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A knife has been found and is being examined by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Supt McLoughlin, of Coolock Garda Station, said: “At about 8.30am two or three people got in the house. We don’t know whether they were let in or whatever.

“A struggle ensued upstairs and he was left with stab wounds,” he said. Gardaí have also drafted in interpreters so they can talk to the man’s housemates.

Supt McLoughlin said employers might be able to help track down the people who entered the house.

He said: “Quite a number of Latvians are in gainful employment.

“Some may not have turned up to work this morning or may be acting suspiciously at work when they went in.

“We’d ask employers to come forward if they noticed anything unusual about their employees.”

Gardaí at Coolock are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them on 01-6664200.