Man (41) charged with murder of 25-year-old stabbed in crowded bar
A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with murdering another man in a crowded bar in Co Limerick last weekend.
Mark Crawford, with an address at Distillery View, Thomondgate, Co Limerick, appeared before Limerick District Court yesterday charged with murdering 24-year old Patrick ‘Pa’ O’Connor.
Mr Crawford is charged with Mr O’Connor’s murder at Fitzgerald’s Bar, Sexton Street North, Thomondgate, on July 7 last.
No evidence was given in relation to Mr O’Connor’s fatal injuries, however it is believed he was stabbed a number of times in the upper body.
He died from his injuries in the early hours of last Sunday morning at University of Limerick after being rushed there by ambulance from Fitzgerald’s Bar.
Detective Garda Tommy Griffin of Mayorstone Garda Station gave evidence of arresting and charging Mr Crawford.
Det Gda Griffin said that after he cautioned the accused he “made no reply”.
The court was interrupted by the victim’s mother who shouted at the accused.
She was led away from the court by relatives in a distressed state.
Other family members wept throughout the brief court proceedings.
Det Gda Griffin told the court he arrested Mr Crawford at Henry Street garda station at 9.18pm on Tuesday, and charged him with Mr O’Connor’s murder at 9.29pm.
Mr Crawford’s solicitor Sarah Ryan said she had “no questions” about the arrest and cautioning of her client.
Sergeant Donal Cronin of Henry Street garda station applied for the accused to be remanded in custody to next Tuesday “for the purposes of obtaining DPP directions”.
Mr Crawford wore a grey and black Adidas tracksuit and did not speak during the brief hearing. Judge Marian O’Leary remanded him in custody to appear before Limerick District Court again next Tuesday, July17.
Mr O’Connor worked as an employee at Pallas Foods.
Yesterday, hundreds of people turned out near Mr O’Connor’s home in Kileely where a remembrance vigil was held. Family, friends and neighbours released hundreds of balloons into the sky in his memory.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for Mr O’Connor have been announced.
He will repose at Cross’s Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick, from 5pm-6.30pm today. Requiem Mass will take place at St Munchin’s Church, Clancy’s Strand at 9.30am tomorrow with burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver Cemetery.
A post-mortem was carried out on the victim’s body on Monday, however gardaí said they would not be disclosing details for “operational reasons”.