Man to be charged today over fatal stabbing of former friend

A man is due to be charged today in connection with the fatal stabbing of his former friend, father-of-three Jason Flannery, in Ballymun, Dublin, on Thursday.

The 41-year-old received a number of stab wounds in the early hours of the morning after a night celebrating with a group of friends and neighbours. Mr Flannery was celebrating his daughter’s Junior Certificate results that night.

But the partying turned sour within the group and an argument flared. One of them went home and retrieved a knife, came back and stabbed four people.

One of Mr Flannery’s main arteries was severed, fatally injuring him, while a second man was seriously injured after been stabbed in the stomach.

Gardaí said the group, numbering about eight people, had attended a party in Balcurris Park. At around 3am they moved towards Mr Flannery’s house at Cairn Court.

“They were still drinking at that time and something happened — what exactly, we don’t know,” said a Garda source.

He said that one of the group went back to his house and returned brandishing a knife, slashing four people. Mr Flannery was found collapsed around 100 yards from his house, leaving a long trail of blood.

Gardaí are not sure if he was chased by his attacker or attempted to run after him after being stabbed.

“It was an horrendous scene when gardaí arrived,” said a Garda source. “There was one person dead, another nearly dead, two others stabbed, an awful lot of blood and a dozen or so other people highly charged and emotional.”

Two people were arrested, one at the scene. The second man, the suspected knife attacker, was arrested at 6am. Both men, aged 21, were questioned at Ballymun Garda station. One of them was released on Thursday night and a file will go to the DPP.

The second man is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

The seriously injured man is said to be in a stable condition.