Did ‘ killer’ arrange to meet Irish teacher?
A FORMER student may have arranged to meet Irish academic John Dowling before stabbing him to death outside a Paris college, it has emerged.
Yesterday, tributes continued to pour in for Mr Dowling, who had been due to retire at the end of this academic year.
There was a minute’s silence outside the Léonard de Vinci private university before the Irish national anthem was played and a crowd gathered around a green-white-and-orange tricolour.
French police are now combing through telephone and email records to try and link the 37year- old alleged killer, who has not yet been identified, with the 66-year-old lecturer.
Mr Dowling was seen chatting with the Pakistani man at around midday on Wednesday, by a giant statue of a thumb in front of the university in La Defense business district.
‘Within a couple of minutes, the attacker had taken out a knife and stabbed his victim thirteen times, including once in the throat,’ said an investigating source.
‘The fact that the assailant was carrying a knife in a highly secure area of Paris full of police and soldiers suggests there may have been a high degree of planning.
‘Phones and computers used by both men are being examined to see if a meeting may have been arranged.’
The alleged killer remains in custody in north-west Paris, and faces a murder charge.
He has confirmed that he enrolled in a bachelor’s management course for foreigners at De Vinci in September 2016, but was forced to leave in August 2017 after failing his exams.
Mr Dowling had taught English and international relations at the university for two decades.
Pascal Brouaye, head of the college, said: ‘Since yesterday, messages of friendship have overwhelmed us like a tsunami.
‘It shows how much John was appreciated by students and graduates.’
His student and later, colleague, David Dupuis described Mr Dowling as a ‘beacon of happiness’ who made an impact on everyone he met. He was passionate about his subject, he was passionate about teaching.
‘He was an actor, a comedian – he played his own classes,’ he said.
‘He could teach like no one else I ever knew and that’s something I aspire to.
‘He certainly has been the best teacher in my life.
‘Ireland can be very proud of having such a great symbol for their country.’
jane.fallon.griffin@dailymail.ie