Man in his 40s arrested after fatal stabbing in Cork city centre
The incident occurred near a property at Camden Court, close to Carroll’s Quay and Knapp’s Square, at around 7.50pm. Picture: Noel Sweeney.
Gardaí in Cork have arrested a man in his 40s in connection with a fatal assault in the Lower John Street and Knapp’s Square area of Cork city on Monday evening.
The man was arrested on Wednesday morning and is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in Cork city.
It is understood that the victim, believed to be a Ukrainian national who had lived in Ireland since childhood, was stabbed in the chest in the Lower John Street and Knapp’s Square area shortly after 7pm on Monday after leaving his home to get food.
In the immediate aftermath of the assault, the man returned to the apartment he shared with his wife and young child at Camden Court on Carroll’s Quay, where his wife raised the alarm.
Gardaí and emergency services responded at approximately 7.50pm. Despite efforts by paramedics to treat him, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement, the garda press office said investigations are ongoing.
Drops of blood still trace the young father’s final steps as he made his way home to the apartment he shared with his partner and their young child.
“She was in bits this morning,” one resident in the Camden Court apartment complex on Carroll’s Quay said of the deceased man’s partner.
“They were a nice couple. I think he was out working from early every morning.
“They have a very young child. I think she has family there with her today.”
The couple are originally from Eastern Europe, the neighbour said. The young woman appears to be in her 20s and their child is still very young, possibly less than one year old, the neighbour said.
One resident, Andrew Zammit, who is originally from Malta, said residents of Camden Court were both saddened and frightened by news of the suspected stabbing.
He first learned of his neighbour’s death when gardaí knocked on his apartment door on Tuesday afternoon.
“I was shocked when they said there had been a stabbing,” he said.
“My partner went down to collect food that evening. It’s scary to think he could have been attacked too. I was scared for my partner thinking of it.”
The apartments at Camden Court are “peaceful, quiet, and full of professionals,” Mr Zammit said.
“I love it here. And I feel safe in Cork. I’ve never felt intimidated here. I love Cork and the people here, it is peaceful. Cork is great.
“I was shocked to hear this. We’re hoping to hear the motive. It is scary if it’s a random attack,” he said.
“And we pay top dollar here [in these apartments]. It’s scary to think of someone dying here.
“It’s so sad for the man and his family. My condolences go to them.”
Mr Zammit’s apartment overlooks the Knapp’s Square area, where the alleged attack is understood to have taken place.
He was at home on Monday evening watching Netflix but did not hear anything unusual.
However, at weekends, he often hears “lads shouting, drinking,” he said.
“I think gardaí should pay attention to that area at weekends,” he said.
Knapp’s Square, located behind the apartments, leads to a set of old city steps linking the area to John Redmond Street, which runs towards Shandon. The deceased is understood to have gone to buy food in that direction before the suspected assault shortly after 7pm on Monday evening.
People working in businesses near the scene said they had not experienced trouble in the area.
“But we leave around 4.30pm,” one man said.
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