SON DEAD IN FAMILY STABBING HORROR
Man arrested after pitch and putt champion killed and elderly father badly injured in knife attack
COMMUNITY has been left in shock following the death of a national pitch and putt champion whose father remains in hospital with serious injuries after a double stabbing attack at their home.
Shane Murphy, 27, who was third in the national men’s pitch and putt rankings, died after being stabbed in the chest in an attack at his home in a housing estate in Carrigaline,
Co. Cork, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
His father Patrick Murphy, 75, widely known as ‘Weeshie’, remains in a serious condition in intensive care.
A suspect, aged 42, who was known to the victims, has been arrested in connection with the double stabbing. He was being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at Gurranabraher Garda Station in Cork city last night.
The shocking attack happened at 3.30am at the Murphy family home at Seaview Avenue in Carrigaline.
Gardaí arrived at the scene to find Shane Murphy seriously injured with apparent stab wounds to his chest.
Weeshie Murphy, who was also well
known as a former pitch and putt champion and who played hurling for Cork, was also discovered at the scene with serious stabbing injuries. He was taken to Cork University Hospital where his condition was described yesterday as ‘serious but non-lifethreatening’.
The incident sent shock waves through the local community.
Several moving tributes were paid to Shane Murphy, who was described as ‘a very popular person’ who was extremely wellliked in the community.
The young man won a number of high-profile pitch and putt events in recent years, including a national senior men’s title in 2020.
He and his father had a very close relationship and often travelled together around the country and abroad to play in pitch and putt tournaments.
Pitch and Putt Ireland spokesman Jason O’Connor said he spoke to Shane after his championship win and that the sporting community was ‘truly devastated’ by the news of his death.
Mr O’Connor told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Shane had three national titles. He won the 2016 National Men’s Matchplay championship. In 2010 he won a National Intermediate Strokeplay title and just last year he won the Men’s National Strokeplay title 2020. The title was played last year in June 2021 and was delayed due to Covid. There’s a video of myself interviewing Shane.’
Shane would have been looking forward to starting the new season with Pitch and Putt Ireland and had been playing within the county leagues over the past five weeks. Mr O’Connor said he was due to play a game in Fermoy, Co. Cork, next weekend.
Giving an insight into the close relationship between father and son, Mr O’Connor said Weeshie played every game alongside Shane ‘in his own head’ and followed him avidly through every game. ‘He was a great supporter.’
Pitch and Putt Ireland general secretary Michael Murphy has known Patrick for two decades and has watched Shane play since he was a child.
In an emotional phone call, Mr Murphy said he was ‘shellshocked’
by the news and reflected on his relationship with Weeshie and Shane’s success over the years.
Mr Murphy said: ‘Shane has been among the top pitch and putt players in the country. He’s a former All-Ireland champion. He was number one in the country for a time. He won the All-Ireland Matchplay at Seapoint a couple of years ago. He’s played on the Cork inter-county team as well. Massive achievements. He was a very popular person. Both him and Weeshie were very well liked and respected.
‘Weeshie would have played for the Cork hurlers, very talented as well. I know him the best part of 20 years. He’s a great supporter of the Irish team. He’s the type who couldn’t do enough to help you.’
Weeshie was known as a talented hurler during the 1970s and the early 1980s when he joined Shamrocks GAA club. In 1981 he won a
South-East Cork hurling medal and has coached hurling at adult and under-age levels.
Weeshie’s wife of 33 years and Shane’s mother, Marie, died in 2012.
Cork Fine Gael Councillor Jack White, who played pitch and putt with Shane, said his death was ‘devastating’.
He said: ‘I would have played golf and pitch and putt a little bit with Shane and he was an incredibly talented pitch and putt player, a champion at juvenile and senior level and a very talented golfer and soccer player.
‘He will really be remembered for his sporting talents. It’s just devastating for anyone who knew Shane and everyone here in the community.’
Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire wrote on Twitter: ‘Devastating news coming out of Carrigaline this morning. Completely shocking, impossible to comprehend. Such a young life taken away. My thoughts with the family and friends and the wider community in Carrigaline, Passage and the surrounding areas. There are no words.’
Gardaí said in a statement yesterday evening that they are continuing ‘to investigate a fatal stabbing incident that occurred at a house in Carrigaline, Co. Cork, on Saturday March 26.’
The statement added: ‘At approximately 3.30am, gardaí were called to the scene of a serious assault in Seaview Avenue, Carrigaline, where a man aged 27 was discovered with serious stab wounds and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
‘His body was removed to Cork University Hospital where a postmortem examination was carried out, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.
‘A second man, aged in his 70s, attended Cork University Hospital with serious stab wounds where he still remains. His injuries are described as serious but non-lifethreatening.
‘The 42-year-old man, arrested in relation to this incident, remains detained under of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.’
Gardaí also appealed to anyone who was in the Carrigaline and Passage West areas in the early hours of yesterday who ‘may have noticed any activity which caught their attention’ to contact them.
Father and son travelled the country together
‘Shocking. Such a young life taken away’