Man held over fatal stabbing in crowded pub
A MAN has been arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing at a busy pub in Limerick where patrons had gathered to watch a World Cup match at the weekend.
The suspect, who is in his 40s, was arrested by gardaí yesterday and questioned about the murder of Patrick ‘Pa’ O’Connor.
He was last night being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to question him for up to 24 hours without charge.
Mr O’Connor, 24, from Kileely, Limerick, sustained critical stab wounds while socialising at Fitzgerald’s Bar, Thomondgate, in Limerick on Saturday night. He died from his injuries at University Hospital Limerick in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Gardaí have launched a murder investigation and set up a special incident room at Mayorstone Garda Station in the city.
Superintendent Derek Smart, who is leading the investigation, was granted a further 48 hours in which to hold Fitzgerald’s Bar as a designated crime scene. The application was made before Limerick District Court, sitting in Kilmallock, at around 6pm on Sunday.
Gardaí attached to the Technical Unit are continuing to carry out forensic investigations at the pub.
According to Garda sources, Mr O’Connor and the suspect for his murder were in one another’s company at Fitzgerald’s Bar ‘for a couple of hours’.
Gardaí said they had no clear motive for the attack. They believe the bar was crowded at the time of the fatal stabbing.
Appealing for witnesses, Supt Smart said there was ‘a large number of people within the public house (on Saturday) evening (watching) two World Cup games... into the evening.
‘A number of people have come forward and we have actively interviewed them and taken statements from them.’
However, Supt Smart added his team was seeking the assistance of other people who hadn’t yet come forward. A post mortem on Mr O’Connor’s body was due to be carried out yesterday afternoon.