Knifed to death after watching World Cup
A MAN was stabbed to death in front of a crowd of onlookers in a pub shortly after he watched World Cup matches.
Patrick “Pa” O’connor, from Kileely, Co Limerick, was knifed by another man in Fitzgerald’s Bar in Thomondgate just before midnight on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick in the early hours of yesterday.
Senior gardai investigating the incident said they had begun a murder enquiry.
Supt Derek Smart, who is leading the investigation, said: “I’m satisfied Mr O’connor died inside in a public house, not at his own hand.
“There were a large number of people within the public house [watching] two World Cup games early yesterday afternoon and into the evening.
“A number of people have come forward and we have actively interviewed them and taken statements from them. I’d like to thank them for coming forward to us.
However, the garda added: “A number of other people haven’t come forward yet and we are seeking their assistance to tell us what they saw within the public house.
“It’s obviously a very trying time for Inside bar in Thomondgate the [victim’s] family and we are liaising closely with the family. I would ask that they be given the freedom to grieve.”
A postmortem on Mr O’connor’s body will be carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster today.
Gardai have taken CCTV footage from Fitzgerald’s Bar, however, it was unclear if the killing was caught on camera.
Supt Smart said they were still trying to confirm a motive and forensic officers examined the pub looking for evidence to the killer’s identity.
Local Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan, who lives close to where the killing occurred, said the community was “in shock”.
He added: “Fitzgerald’s Bar is my local pub. I live about 200 yards from it.
“I would encourage anyone who may have any information, no matter how small they think it might be, to forward that information to the gardai.
“I’m not sure what happened exactly, but my sympathy goes out to the family of the person who died.
“I hope the gardai find the perpetrator and bring them to justice as soon as possible.”
An armed garda support unit was also deployed in the early stages of the investigation.
Locals who gathered in shock at the scene said they were “horrified”, “disgusted” and “frightened”.
Supt Smart confirmed at a press conference outside Fitzgerald’s Bar that no arrests had yet been made.
He appealed for information, “no matter how small you think it might be”.
Supt Smart said: “If you saw or heard anything at all, either in the pub or outside the pub, my appeal is that you would contact us at Mayorstone Garda station on 061 456980, or on the Garda Confidential number 1800 666 111.
“Things may have been heard by people who might think as being insignificant, but anything at all, we’d ask you to pick up the phone and give us a call. It might be the vital part of the jigsaw that we need.”