Double murder tragedy for Limerick family

A Limerick family is today coming to terms with a second murder horror.

It has emerged that yesterday’s stabbing victim was a cousin of murdered security man, Brian Fitzgerald.

And it is understood that the main suspect in the murder investigation was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for manslaughter arising out of the fatal stabbing of another man.

Gardaí have confirmed that a blood-stained kitchen knife had been recovered near the scene of the stabbing.

Two men and two women were still being held by gardaí in connection with the murder.

The dead man, Martin O’Donoghue, aged 35, was a cousin of murdered night club security man, Brian Fitzgerald, who was gunned down outside his home in Corbally in 2002.

Mr O’Donoghue, a father-of-five who lived at Island View Terrace, St Mary’s Park, died from multiple stab wounds after a row in a pub spilled out into Broad Street.

A family friend told the Evening Echo: “Martin and Brian Fitzgerald were good buddies when they were growing up. It is a terrible shock and brings back all the terrible memories of Brian’s murder. We hope that the O’Donoghues can get closure. This is an awful thing to happen again.”

The knife found near the scene has been sent to the forensic section in Dublin for examination.

It is said to be a kitchen knife.

The row which led to the fatal stabbing happened shortly after midnight.

Mr O’Donoghue is understood to have been stabbed four times.

He died shortly after admission to Limerick Regional Hospital.

Yesterday’s killing was the fourth murder in the city this year.