Tributes paid to father of six found fatally stabbed in Wicklow park 

Flowers and tributes near the scene where William Moorehouse died in the playground in Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co Wicklow, on Sunday evening. Picture: Collins

Tributes have been paid to the 36-year-old man who was fatally stabbed near a playground in Co Wicklow on Sunday evening. 

William Moorehouse, aged 36, was found with apparent stab wounds close to a playground near a community centre in the Ballywaltrim area of Bray on Sunday evening at about 6pm.

Mr Moorhouse's cousin Trisha Ward wrote online: “Cruel world we live in sham rip to my cousin Willie. Hard old life Willie harmless fella you were. Hope u get good bed in heaven.” 

His former partner Angela Joyce wrote: “It’s with sadness I have to say this, rest in peace Willie, the father of my two young baby girls.

“I can say I spent six lovely years with you, and you showed me what a good man is. ‘Til we meet again.” 

Six people have been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing, as gardaí continue to trawl through CCTV footage as part of their investigation.

Mr Moorhouse was discovered by a dog walker, who raised the alarm.

Emergency services were called to the scene, and efforts were made to revive Mr Moorehouse, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

An autopsy was due to take place on Tuesday by State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis at the morgue in Whitehall, Dublin.

One line of inquiry is that Mr Moorehouse knew his attackers and was killed after agreeing to meet another man in order to resolve a dispute.

However, officers suspect he was then attacked by a group of men with weapons and suffered fatal stab wounds after attempting to flee the scene.

The Traveller mediation service, a partnership funded by the Department of Justice which works to mediate in conflicts involving Travellers, is understood to have been called in to assist. It is not thought to be part of a wider feud.

Gardaí recovered some weapons in growth close to the scene of the attack, which are being forensically examined.

A full examination of the area has been carried out by the Garda Technical Bureau and the cordon has been lifted.

On Tuesday, four more men were arrested over the course of the day in connection with the investigation.

They include a juvenile, two men aged in their 20s, and one in his 30s.

This follows the arrests of two other men aged in their 20s and 40s on Monday night. On Wednesday, gardaí said these men have been released without charge. 

Meanwhile gardaí have confirmed they have also carried out seven searches under warrant.

Door-to-door inquiries are also under way and officers are trawling through CCTV taken from around Bray as part of the investigation.

In a statement issue on Tuesday, a Garda spokesperson said:  “The [four] arrested males are currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at Garda stations in the Wexford/Wicklow Division.

“The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) is assisting with this investigation.

"Results of the post-mortem will assist investigating gardaí in determining the course of this investigation."

Mr Moorehouse was a father of six and was engaged to be married to his partner, who is due to give birth to another baby in four months.