IT’S EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE
Cameron Blair was enjoying a party at his house last week when disaster struck...
A STUDENT was fatally stabbed in the neck when he tried to stop a group of young men from gate-crashing his party, it has emerged.
Second-year engineering student Cameron Blair, 20, was stabbed when the group were asked to leave a house party on Bandon Road in Cork on Thursday night.
The Cork Institute of Technology student staggered out of his front door onto the road and collapsed. He was rushed to Cork University Hospital shortly after 9.20pm where he died from his injuries.
A post mortem was conducted but the results were not released for operational reasons after gardaí upgraded his killing to murder.
West Cork-based Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard said: ‘We all have families and looking at this you would think anything could happen to your child.
‘Carrying knives is a totally different phenomenon from my day. Never in my life [growing up] did I see anyone carrying a knife.
‘We now have a situation where people have knives walking around the place, which is crazy.’
It is understood there were about 20 students at the party when the unprovoked and vicious attack took place.
Cameron was yesterday described as having a ‘boyish smile’ and an infectious ‘joy of life’ by his devastated friends.
The devoted rugby fan was the flag bearer at an Ireland vs Italy Rugby World Cup match in front of 50,000 people in England four years ago.
In an interview with the Southern Star newspaper, the then 16year-old said being a flag bearer for an international rugby match was a dream come true.
‘This really is an opportunity of a lifetime and I never dreamt that I would win such an amazing prize,’ he added. ‘I have been playing rugby for Bandon Rugby Club for over seven years and also play for my school, Bandon Grammar. One of my favourite players is Robbie Henshaw.’
The young man’s murder has shocked locals in the area, which is on the outskirts of Cork city centre and is a mixture of residential, student housing and businesses.
Pat Duggan, who works at the Sportsman’s Arms pub on Bandon Road, said: ‘We saw the commotion outside. People were afraid to go out. We are in total shock.
‘The area is fantastic. It is just a crazy thing that happened. That poor young fella. To go into a house with a knife and do that...
‘This just can’t go on. I feel so sorry for his family.’
Tributes poured in for the promising young student yesterday.
Dan Murphy, president of Bandon Rugby Club where Cameron had been due to play a match last night, said he made an ‘indelible mark’ on everyone he met.
‘He played as he spoke, full of confidence and was a delight to see running at full tilt with a rugby ball,’ he added. ‘Such a tragedy will be felt far and wide but will be felt really deeply within our club.’
Dr Paul Cotton, Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, said Cameron was well known and regarded in the community. Dr Colton was the chief celebrant at his Confirmation six years ago.
‘Having had student children myself, I know well that a calamity such as this on a night out is every parent’s worst nightmare,’ he added. ‘My heart goes out to the Blair family.’
Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan, who is from Bandon, said her heart was broken for Cameron’s parents Noel and
Cathy and his younger brother Alan, who attends Bandon Grammar School.
‘They are an absolutely fabulous family,’ she added.
‘I have two boys myself and it is terrible to think you could say goodbye to your boys in the morning and they are not coming back to you in the evening.
‘His mother is one of the most gentle people I know. He played rugby with his school and had everything going for him.
‘A beautiful child with a beautiful personality. It is a nightmare.’
Bandon Grammar Secondary School, where Cameron was a pupil, issued a statement expressing its deep sadness at the passing of a gifted young man. ‘Our school community is deeply affected, particularly senior students as the deceased still has family members in the school,’ it said.
‘The management and staff extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends.’
Gardaí are conducting door-todoor inquiries in the area to determine if anyone saw or heard anything suspicious over the course of Thursday evening.
The area is home to a large number of students because of its close proximity to UCC.
An incident room has been set up at Togher Garda Station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed. CCTV is being gathered.
Anyone with information or video footage is asked to contact gardaí and not to share it on social media.
Cameron had an ‘infectious joy’ ‘A beautiful child... It is a nightmare’