Gardaí build case against suspects in knife murder

GARDAÍ are building up evidence against suspects for the brutal murder of a man earlier this year.

Detectives have identified a small number of drug addicts who they believe were involved in the stabbing of Peter Gunn.

Mr Gunn, 32, a father-of-two, disappeared in the early hours of January 4 after a night out with friends in Dublin city centre. A badly decomposed body found in a ditch in a remote part of north county Dublin on January 15 proved to be his.

Mr Gunn had been reported missing on January 10 and the man’s mother, Geraldine, made an emotional appeal for the public’s help on the Joe Duffy radio show.

Originally from Whitehall in north Dublin, Mr Gunn lived with his mother in Bray, before moving into a flat off Collins Avenue, near Whitehall.

Ms Gunn told the Joe Duffy Show her son had been out with friends in the Sportsman Inn pub on Parnell Street on Saturday, January 3.

She said he and his friends walked a couple of girls back to their homes on Summerhill, in the north inner city, sometime between 3.30am and 4.30am on Sunday.

Ms Gunn said the girl he walked back said goodnight to him and told him his friends were waiting for him in a car.

“I spoke to all these people and they said Peter did not join them in the taxi,” she said.

Garda sources said that Mr Gunn was not known as a serious criminal. They said he had a drug problem and had been arrested a couple of times for public order offences.

Sources said that friends or acquaintances of his were known drug addicts and had convictions for theft and robbery.

It is understood detectives have identified four or five of these individuals, who they know were with Mr Gunn on the night he vanished.

Gardaí have spoken to these people informally and are building up their case before making any arrests.

Officers said the woman Peter walked home was not under investigation.

Sources said it was likely Peter’s body was brought to Dunsoghly Lane and dumped.

The area, known as St Margaret’s, is close to the airport and is near main routes into and out of the city.

It was reported yesterday that gardaí had found blood in the Sportsman Inn. This is being sent for analysis to see if it matches the deceased or a suspect.