Two killed in separate Cork stabbings

GARDAÍ IN Cork have begun a second murder investigation in as many days after a 31-year-old man injured in a stabbing attack in the city on Friday died in hospital yesterday evening.

David Hamilton, a native of New Ross, Co Wexford, but living in Ballincollig, Co Cork, had been in a critical condition at Cork University Hospital (CUH) following an assault on Friday.

Mr Hamilton was found with a stab wound to the chest lying on the roadway at Kerryhall Road in Fairhill at about 2.30pm on Friday and rushed to CUH where he underwent emergency surgery.

He remained in a critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit over the weekend as family members maintained a bedside vigil, but he died at about 7pm yesterday.

Gardaí under Supt Con Cadogan of Gurranebraher Garda station last night upgraded their investigation into the assault on Mr Hamilton to a murder inquiry.

A 38-year-old man has been charged in court with assault causing serious harm to Mr Hamilton and is due to appear at Cork District Court in relation to that charge on Thursday morning.

In a separate matter, a man is due to appear in court in Cork this morning in connection with another fatal stabbing of a man in the city over the bank holiday weekend.

The 24-year-old man was arrested along with a 24-year-old woman on Infirmary Road near the city centre on Sunday morning for questioning about the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Mark Hanlon. The two were brought to Bridewell Garda station where they were detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act for questioning about the assault.

A father of one, Mr Hanlon was found lying on the roadway at Infirmary Road at about 2am on Sunday morning after a row that began in a flat in a nearby complex spilled out on to the street.

He was rushed by ambulance to CUH, where he underwent emergency but he died at about 4am from his injuries and gardaí requested the services of the State Pathologist’s office.

A postmortem examination carried out by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy on Mr Hanlon at CUH on Sunday afternoon confirmed he died from a single stab wound to the chest.

A native of Lagan Grove in Mayfield but living in Lotamore, Mr Hanlon was the father of an eight-year-old boy who is due to make his Holy Communion this Saturday.

Meanwhile, in another unrelated matter, gardaí in Mayfield on Cork’s northside began an investigation early yesterday morning after a 35-year-old man was found with stab wounds on Wellington Road.

The man was found lying on the street at Parkview on Wellington Road at about 6.25am by a passerby who raised the alarm.

The man was rushed by ambulance to CUH. He had been stabbed a number of times in the back and in the arms.

He underwent surgery at CUH. His injuries were not life-threatening and he was later able to speak to gardaí.

The man confirmed to investigating officers he did not wish to make any statement of complaint about the incident, which gardaí are treating as a domestic dispute.

Gardaí believe the man was attacked in the sittingroom of a flat he shared with his partner and a Garda technical team carried out a search of the flat early yesterday morning.

Gardaí recovered a number of items from the house which they believe may have been used in the assault before the injured party confirmed he did not wish to make any complaint.