Taoiseach leads tributes to victim of stabbing attack
LEO Varadkar yesterday led tributes to Japanese man Yosuke Sasaki – who was killed in Wednesday’s horrific stabbing incident.
The Taoiseach said: ‘I want to express my condolence, particularly to the family of the man from Japan who was killed in the attack. I understand he was a man who came to work in Ireland just over a year ago.
‘I think it must be a very difficult time for his family to hear the news that someone who came to Ireland to live in a peaceful country was killed in what may well turn out to have been a random attack.’
Mr Varadkar, who said he had spoken to Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan yesterday morning to get a briefing on the situation, continued: ‘I also want to extend my best wishes to the other two people who have been injured.’
The Taoiseach also offered his ‘congratulations and thanks’ to the gardaí for ‘acting so swiftly and dealing with the attack within 45 minutes – and I’m sure preventing further loss of life’.
‘My understanding is that this is not linked to terror but all lines of enquiry remain open,’ Mr Varadkar added.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Sasaki’s employers – National Pen, a call centre in Dundalk, Co. Louth – also paid tribute to the 24-year-old stabbing victim.
It said: ‘It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we confirm the death of our colleague in [Wednesday’s] incident in Dundalk. Our colleague joined National Pen in August 2017 and during his relatively short time with the contact centre was a valued member of staff who made a positive impact on the company. Senior management and wider colleagues extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and have been liaising directly with the Japanese Embassy.’
Peter Kelly, the company’s chief executive officer, said it was ‘a time of profound sadness for management and staff’.
‘National Pen prides itself on taking the utmost care of its work colleagues,’ he added.
‘We will do everything possible to assist the family at this tragic time.
‘An employee assistance programme is being made available to National Pen employees and their families.’
‘Difficult time for his family’