Murder investigation after Polish man dies

ONE of two Polish men viciously stabbed at the weekend died in hospital last night as a murder investigation got under way.

The second man, who is in his late 20s, is still critically ill in hospital. Both men had been in the country for less than nine months.

Gardaí arrested a 19-year-old man yesterday and questioned him about the attack, which took place in Drimnagh, south Dublin, last Saturday night.

The victims were attacked by a youth wielding a screwdriver after they confronted a gang of teenagers interfering with their car outside their home on Benbulbin Road.

A youth with a screwdriver drove it into the head of one of the Polish men and stabbed the other in the throat.

Superintendent Bart Faulkner, leading the investigation, appealed to local people for help: “This is a terrible crime which has been committed not just against new members of our community but against the community itself. The good people of Drimnagh are appalled at what has happened in their neighbourhood. We are asking people to come forward with information.

The incident room at Sundrive Road Garda Station can be contacted on 01-6666675, while the Garda Confidential phone number is 1800 666111.

It is understood families of the two men have flown into Dublin.

Some neighbours said the gang were using a screwdriver to try and break into the Polish men’s car.

There were reports that the Polish men have may rowed with the gang outside a nearby off-licence earlier and that the youths had followed the men home.