Gardaí look for man and woman after fatal stabbing

Gardaí are today looking for a man and woman after a taxi driver was stabbed to death in Dublin.

The 31-year-old, who was off-duty, was attacked after a row broke out in his cab in a housing estate in west Dublin.

It is understood the driver got out of the car and attempted to run off but was set upon, stabbed and died in a garden at the side of a house.

A spokesman for the garda press office said detectives were holding a case conference and were following a definite line of inquiry.

It was initially believed the driver was chasing a passenger who did not pay a fare when he was fatally stabbed.

However, investigating gardaí later confirmed the victim was off duty at the time of attack in Fortlawn Avenue, Blanchardstown.

Forensic officers spent the morning carrying out a technical examination at the scene before the man’s body was removed at around midday.

Anyone with information was urged to contact detectives at Blanchardstown station.

“Gardaí from Blanchardstown garda Station investigating the murder of a man at Fortlawn Avenue believe that the deceased was not working as a taxi driver at the time of this incident,” a spokesman said.

“We are looking into all the circumstances surrounding the incident at the moment.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor Paul Donnelly, who was on the scene within minutes of the attack, said the community was in shock.

“They are genuinely shocked that something like this could have happened. It sort of reminds people that this sort of thing is never far from your door,” Mr Donnelly said.