Third man arrested in relation to fatal stabbing of asylum seeker in Dublin city centre

Quam Babatunde was found unresponsive with serious injuries on Anne Street/Duke Lane Upper in the early hours of Saturday morning

Quam Babatunde was stabbed on Anne Street/Duke Lane Upper in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

A third man has been arrested in relation to a fatal stabbing in Dublin city in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A murder investigation is underway following the death of the man, who has been named locally as Quam Babatunde.

He was found unresponsive with serious injuries by gardaí after emergency services were called to South Anne Street/Duke Lane Upper shortly after 3am on Saturday.

It is understood the incident started in a nightclub and spilled out onto the street.

Mr Babatunde was from Nigeria and was in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system.

Gardaí said on Monday morning that a man aged in his 20s was arrested following searches in the capital. A second man was arrested in Belfast by the PSNI and is currently being detained at a police station in the North.

On Monday evening, a third man, aged in his 20s, was also arrested. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.

The autopsy on Mr Babatunde has been completed, and gardaí said the results are not being released for operational reasons. 

"Investigations are ongoing," a garda spokesperson said. 

Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

Any person who may have been present in the vicinity of South Anne Street/Duke Lane Upper, Dublin 2 between 2.45am and 3.30am this morning Saturday 15, February 2025.

Gardaí are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have information about any of these incidents or has any mobile phone footage recorded at the relevant locations, and any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area or in the vicinity of Dawson Street and St Stephens Green at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.