STAB DEATH SUSPECT: KILL OR BE KILLED
Playing for Pike Rovers
The young man, originally from Limerick city, is well known to gardai and was arrested over the horrific attack on 23-year-old Jamie Higgins. The suspect, released yesterday, previously declared on one of his social media accounts: “It’s either them or me man – kill or be killed.”
Jamie was stabbed to death at 2am on Sunday after enjoying drinks with family and friends at the Shannon Knights Nightclub in Shannon, Co Clare, on St Patrick’s night. Investigators are now investigating whether a car was damaged before or during the fatal attack.
Club staff, gardai and paramedics fought to save the young man’s life. He was rushed to University Hospital Limerick but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
A source said: “There has been a lot of issues going on between the people suspected of being involved in this.
“It originated as a feud between relatives – this really is not a criminalbased feud issue.
“It is essentially elements of a large extended family in dispute where other parties have become involved.
“They are from an area of Limerick where these disputes are solved through violence.
“The only reason they were in Shannon was to avoid each other – unfortunately both sides had the same idea.
“It is believed an initial fight was broken up and then they went back at it. It was during this incident that Jamie and another man were stabbed. “There is a huge amount of CCTV of the incident and security staff inside in the premises were witnesses.” The dead man had celebrated his birthday last month and was a talented sportsman both in rugby and soccer. He played with wellknown Limerick club Pike Rovers FC.
They led tributes yesterday, writing: “It is with great sadness that we learned of the untimely passing of former schoolboy star Jamie Higgins. “Jamie starred in the Hoops for many years and won numerous underage trophies.
“Our sincere and deepest sympathies go out to his family at this very sad time. “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam.”
After a man held in connection with the murder was released without charge, gardai said they are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.