David (29) was a ‘devoted father’
THE death of David ‘Motcha’ Walsh sent shockwaves around the county at the weekend.
29-year-old David was allegedly stabbed to death in Sydney, Australia, on Friday. His fiancée, Tina Cahill, from Pondsfield, New Ross, was arrested at the scene and charged with his murder.
David from Moran Park, Enniscorthy, was found with a stab wound to his neck at the couple’s home in Sydney’s Padstow district, which they shared with two of Ms Cahill’s friends from New Ross.
It is understood that a row broke out after a 36-year-old man returned to the house from the pub having met Ms Cahill’s and her female housemates there earlier in the day.
An altercation took place and Mr Walsh was allegedly stabbed.
The man was also arrested at the scene but he was later released without charge.
David was the son of John and Anna Walsh and brother of Jonathan, Patrick, Stephen, Barry and Faith. He emigrated to Australia in recent times and was working with a construction company there. While in Australia he met Ms Cahill and the couple got engaged last month.
Described as a devoted father David kept in regular contact with his three young daughters and missed them greatly while working in Australia.
He was a talent footballer playing first for Ajax Athletic and later with Enniscorthy United.
Local councillor John O’Rourke said his death shocked the entire town.
‘I mentored him as a young fella when he played at under age level with Ajax Athletics. He then went on to play for Enniscorthy United at adult level. He was a good footballers.
‘He was a very outgoing person, very helpful and very understanding. Enniscorthy has lost yet another son to tragedy but I know that the people of Enniscorthy will rally around the Walsh family who are obviously devastated and in total shock at the moment.
‘David came from a very respected and decent family and he himself was very decent and hard working.
‘ The family have asked for privacy at the moment as they struggle to deal with his death but thank everyone for their support. David went to Australia for work and nobody expected him to meet with such tragedy.
‘His parents John and Anna are absolutely devastated. David was a very hard worker and on a couple of occasions I asked him to do a few jobs for people that were in difficult circumstances and he always obliged me.
‘He never wanted any thanks or praise for helping out, he just did it in his own quiet way.’
It is not known when David’s body will be released to his family but both Deputy Paul Kehoe and Deputy James Browne are liaising with the family and the Department of Foreign Affairs in a bid to repatriate his body.