Shatter laments tragic killings

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said he hopes a spate of “unusual and tragic homicides” during a violent start to the New Year will not prove a pattern of events to come.

Speaking at the signing of the contract to build Cork’s new prison, Mr Shatter expressed concern for the “traumatic” events members of the emergency services have had to deal with, after seven people endured violent deaths.

He said: “It’s very sad that it appears that people lost their lives in a series of what I would describe as domestic incidents or incidents relating to people who had friendships.”