Murder probe launched into death of 31-year-old Ukrainian in Cork city

Gardaí in Cork sealed off a section of Lower John Street and Knapps Square following an incident in which a man was fatally injured in the city centre on Monday evening. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Gardaí in Cork have launched a murder investigation into the death of a 31-year-old Ukrainian man following a stabbing near his city centre home on Monday evening.

The results of a post-mortem, carried out on Tuesday, are not being released for operational reasons, but gardaí are treating the death as murder.

It is understood that the man, who had lived in Ireland since childhood, was stabbed in the chest in the Lower John St and Knapps Square area after 7pm on Monday after he had left his home to get food.

The man is believed to have returned to the apartment he shared with his wife and young child in Camden Court, on Carroll’s Quay, where his wife raised the alarm. 

Emergency services responded at approximately 7.50pm, and although paramedics attended to the man, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man’s remains were removed to Cork University Hospital (CUH), where a post-mortem examination was carried out by the State pathologist, Dr SallyAnne Collis.

A senior investigating garda officer has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Watercourse Road Garda Station, with a family liaison officer assigned to support the man’s family.

Gardaí sealed off the apartment in Camden Court where the man died, and a section of Lower John St and Knapps Square where they believe he was assaulted and subsequently made his way to his home.

It is believed that one line of inquiry being pursued by gardaí is that the deceased man may have been the victim of a random attack.

Gardaí have begun door-to-door inquiries in the area and have also begun to harvest CCTV footage from the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on 021 4558510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.