Two arrested in connection with fatal stabbing

A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Tipperary town.

Two people were arrested today after a married father was stabbed to death last night in Tipperary town.

Willie Stokes, 47, was attacked while sitting in his van on Kickham Place in the town last night. He tried to flee from his attacker or attackers but crashed his vehicle on Bridge Street where he was pronounced dead sometime afterwards.

A man, aged in his 20s, and a woman in her 40s were detained in the early hours of the morning in Waterford.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out today on Mr Stokes’ body but it is understood he was knifed several times shortly after 6pm. A murder investigation was launched.

Mr Stokes was a member of the Traveller community and had lived in Tipperary for the past 20 years.

Gardaí in Tipperary are appealing to anyone who was around the Supervalu in Tipperary town from 9am yesterday until 7pm last night to contact them.

The motive is still unknown, but one line of inquiry is that the killing may be linked to an ongoing feud between members of the Traveller community in Waterford and Tipperary and may have been planned.

The scene in the town remains sealed off and traffic restrictions are in place.

The two people arrested are being questioned at the garda station in Tipperary town.