Murdered teenager's family appeal for help
The call came as detectives began a hunt for a gang of youths who they believe may have been involved in the fatal stabbing in Coolock, North Dublin, last Saturday.
Alan’s heartbroken uncle John Kelly said the people who did this had to be found: “Justice at the end of the day needs to be done. The most important thing is that this doesn’t happen again. We as people have to stand up to be counted. A good guy was taken away from us. We need to make sure we stamp out these individuals.”
Mr Kelly said the family, particularly Alan’s mother, Miriam, and sister, Catríona, were devastated.
“For the family and his mother and his sister, it’s just heartbreaking. Alan was a typical 17-year-old, a good-looking guy, straight As. He would never let himself get into trouble. That’s the hard thing to accept, that anyone would think there was any reason this individual would get into a fight.”
He said that as a child Alan battled with, and overcame, leukaemia and was a source of courage to all the family. Mr Kelly said his nephew was having a fun night out with his girlfriend at the UCI cinema in Coolock last Saturday night. Alan had kissed his girlfriend goodnight shortly after 11pm and took a path through a small park when a group set upon him. In what seems to be an unprovoked attack, he was stabbed twice in the chest and his mobile phone and wallet taken.
Gardaí believe there may be up to eight teens in the gang - including boys and girls - and are working around the clock to locate them.
Detectives suspect the gang may have been responsible for other robberies in the area and have asked victims, who have not already done so, to contact them at 6664200.
Marie Wallace, who taught Alan in primary school and is a close friend of his mother, said: “He was just a lovely kid. He wouldn’t be the type of person who would raise his voice or say boo to anybody.”
Alan’s school principal Stephen Jordan described him as a very fine young man: “He was full of enthusiasm with a great zest for life. He had a particular interest in drama and art. He was a quiet lad, an unassuming lad, which is why it’s so sad - that a fine life is now lost.”
Parish priest Fr Martin Noon of the Church of the Holy Trinity said there was a palpable sense of sadness in the community.
Local TDs Martin Brady and Tommy Broughan both said the community was devastated and outraged by the murder and called for a far greater police presence on the streets, targeting gangs who are harassing locals.
Meanwhile, across the city, gardai at Kilmainham and Kevin Street stations are making progress in relation to the fatal stabbing of Joseph Sutcliffe at Fatima Mansions early on Sunday morning.
“We are hopeful. We are following a number of lines of inquiry, but we are seeking information from people who were in Fatima Mansions complex between 12am and 3am,” said Supt Eddie Quirke. Sutcliffe, 32, from Curlew Road, Drimnagh, came from a strong boxing family and himself won six All-Ireland boxing medals.
Supt Quirke said Sutcliffe, who was known to gardaí, got into a row at the flat complex and received stab wounds to the stomach.
Supt Quirke said there were a number of people in the courtyard between blocks E and C at the time. Some were visitors, while others were residents. He asked anyone with information to ring 6669700.
