Murder inquiries after fatal stabbings

GARDAÍ are investigating two weekend stabbing murders in Dublin and Cork, with a teenager remaining in custody last night in relation to one of the incidents.

A British national in his early 40s was stabbed during a mass fight between two criminal gangs outside a pub in Ballyfermot, west Dublin, early yesterday morning.

Gardaí are investigating the possibility the fight was planned in advance. Many of those involved had armed themselves with knives and other weapons.

A second man, from Ballyfermot, was seriously injured in the fight. He was stabbed in the stomach and also suffered head injuries. He underwent surgery yesterday.

Gardaí believe more than 20 men were involved in the melee at Hannigan’s pub, off Park West Road, between 1.30am and 2am.

Some are believed to have attended the Bernard Dunne boxing fight at the O2 arena hours earlier. Garda suspect they and others armed themselves and met with a rival gang at the pub. Detectives are investigating the possibility that both sides set up the fight in advance. The deceased was believed to have been involved in one of the gangs.

When gardaí arrived, there was a confrontation between them and a number of men. Four men from Ballyfermot were arrested under the Public Order Act and later released, with files to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Superintendent John Quirke said gardaí were trying to formally identify the victim last night. He said a row between a group of men spilled out from the bar onto the plaza, continuing down a series of steps, onto a car park.

Supt Quirke said there may have been “a number of implements” used.

He appealed to the “considerable number” of people at the bar and in the area at the time to contact Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01-6667200.

Meanwhile, the 17-year- old held in connection with a fatal stabbing in Blarney, Co Cork is believed to be a relative of the victim, 30-year-old Shannon Ruby, originally from Blarney but living in Lower Cork Hill in Youghal, Co Cork.

He died following a row at a house at Ard na Gréine, Station Road in Blarney, shortly before 9pm on Saturday. It is understood an argument took place at a house in the estate, and the stabbing happened at a nearby house a short time later.

The teen was arrested and was being questioned at Gurranabraher GardaStation in Cork city.

Results of a postmortem on Mr Ruby’s remains at Cork University Hospital yesterday were not released by gardaí for operational reasons.

They appealed for anyone who was in the area between 8pm and 9pm on Saturday to contact them at Gurranabraher Garda Station at 021 4946200.