‘Tell my ma I love her,’ says murder accused, 18

An 18-year-old man made a thumbs-up gesture and said “tell my ma I love her” as he was remanded in custody charged with murder in connection with a stabbing in Dublin at the weekend.

Paul “Paulie” Curran, aged 24, died after he was stabbed at Seagull House on Rutland Avenue in Crumlin at around 4pm on Saturday. He was rushed to St James’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The scene was preserved for a technical examination and on Sunday 18-year-old Graham McEvoy was arrested and detained for questioning.

Mr McEvoy, who has an address at Captain’s Road in Crumlin, was brought before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court yesterday charged with the murder of Mr Curran.

Det Sergeant Danny Kelly, of Sundrive Road Garda Station, told Judge Walsh the charge was put to the youth at 12.53am on Monday. Det Sergeant Kelly said “in reply to the charge after caution, he made no comment”.

He applied for a remand in custody. Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said that due to the to the nature of the charge, a bail application could not be made.

Judge Walsh remanded Mr McEvoy in custody to appear again in one week.

Bail in a murder case can only be granted by the High Court.

Dressed in a white polo shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, and white runners, the youth remained silent for most of the proceedings.

However, as he was escorted from the courtroom he turned to a man in the public gallery and gave the thumbs-up while saying “I love yous; tell my ma I love her”.

An 18-year-old woman, who had also been detained in relation to the investigation, was released without charge yesterday morning and a file will be prepared for the DPP.