MURDER VICTIM BLED TO DEATH AFTER HORROR KNIFE ATTACK..
Relative found ‘mid-level drug dealer’ in pool of blood
ON MARTIN CLANCY MURDER
Investigators at Little O’curry Street in Limerick TRAGIC murder victim Martin Clancy bled to death after he was stabbed in the neck, it emerged last night.
The 45-year-old, originally from the Moyross area of Limerick, was found dead by a relative in his apartment at Little O’curry Street in the city shortly before teatime on Sunday.
His body was lying in a pool of blood. Local sources said Clancy had come to the attention of gardai for drug dealing and had a long history of interaction with officers.
Two theories are being explored – that he fell foul of fellow members of the drug trade or had a huge row with a friend.
A source said: “Martin was involved in mid-level drug dealing in the city. He was dealing out of O’curry Street. He was recently arrested by gardai for this – he was banging out heroin there.
“He then fell foul of some dangerous people in the city. In the last week or so he had a big falling out with people.
“They went to his house with golf clubs to attack him but he avoided it.
“He was a dead man walking. Stabbing someone in the neck is only going to have one result.”
Clancy had a number of previous convictions including possession of drugs, possession of a flick knife and public order offences.
CLUES
Limerick has seen three murders in recent weeks.
Rose Hanrahan, 78, was strangled and beaten in a botched burglary at her home in Thomondgate.
And in the village of Pallaskenry, Willie Walsh was stabbed to death.
Local rugby club Saint Mary’s paid tribute to Mr Clancy and said his family was heavily involved in the organisation.
A statement on its Facebook page read: “The club is saddened to hear of the death of Martin Clancy. Martin’s family have a strong link and tradition with the club with many of his brothers playing for us.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to the Clancy family at this very difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
Gardai at Henry Street have launched a murder inquiry and have begun a trawl of CCTV in the area to catch the killer.
Forensic investigators also began their work as they hunted for clues in the apartment and on the street outside.
Gardai will also be asked to check their notebooks for sightings of well known criminals in the city centre.
A source said: “There is always a need for more physical evidence but the CCTV will help identify the person.
“Windmill Street and Little O’curry Street have seen a problem with heroin and anti-social behaviour in the past.
“There are some very decent people living there but all it takes is one or two people to bring the street down.
“A lot of people reported to gardai a problem on the street with drug dealing and that meant a focus on the road there.
“Now one of the people subject to that attention has been murdered.”
He fell foul of some dangerous people in the past week
LOCAL SOURCE