Gardaí believe they have identified most of the men who were on the scene when father of six Willie Moorehouse (36) was stabbed to death in an apparent ambush at an organised fist fight in Bray, Co Wicklow, at the weekend.
Though four of the six suspects arrested over the significant public disorder that culminated in Mr Moorehouse’s fatal stabbing have now been released without charge, gardaí have made significant progress with the investigation.
That inquiry was on Tuesday officially upgraded to a murder investigation after the postmortem on the victim’s remains, carried out by State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis, confirmed he had been stabbed multiple times.
Gardaí arrested two men in an operation in Bray on Monday and a further four people - including a juvenile, two men in their 20s and one in his 30s - were detained when seven properties on a halting site were searched on Tuesday morning. Of the six arrested, four had been released by Wednesday morning.
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However, Garda sources said it was never anticipated charges would arise from the arrest of the men. Instead, they were taken in for question, as suspected participants in the public disorder. Their release without charge was always expected, pending the inquiry continuing and criminal charges following at a later date.
Gardaí believe forensic testing on a number of weapons, including knives, found during searches close to the crime scene, and CCTV footage recorded in the area at the time, will help secure prosecutions.
Detectives believe Mr Moorehouse and a number of his associates were involved in a dispute with other men from the region, who are well known to them, over drug dealing around Bray. It is understood Mr Moorehouse and a member of the rival faction were due to fight on the Boghall Road, in the Ballywaltrim area of Bray, on Sunday evening.
However, just before 6pm Mr Moorehouse was chased and attacked by a group of armed men and suffered multiple wounds close to a playground and park. He died at the scene despite efforts to save him by members of the public and paramedics.
Mr Moorehouse lived on the Half Moon Halting Site at Windgates, about 5km south of Bray, and it is understood his partner is pregnant. Gardaí are fearful, as tensions are running high, the victim’s associates may now clash with the men who carried out Sunday’s attack.
Gardaí on Wednesday said they had received the preliminary results of a postmortem carried out on the body of the 36-year-old and while they were not being released, the case is now being treated as a murder inquiry.
“A senior investigating officer is leading the investigation from the incident room at Bray Garda station. A family liaison officer continues to provide support for the family,” the Garda said in a statement.
The two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, who were detained on Monday in the Bray area in connection with the attack were released on Wednesday morning.
Four others were arrested on Tuesday when gardaí searched seven properties at a halting site in the Bray area. A juvenile, two men in their 20s and one in his 30s were taken for questioning. One of the men in his 20s and the man in his 30s were released without charge on Wednesday. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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