Man arrested in connection with fatal stabbing in Tallaght

Gardaí believe man arrested in Dundalk was at scene in Dublin when attack occurred

Gardaí are pictured on Mac Uilliam Road in Tallaght, Dublin on Wednesday after  a man (25) who was stabbed on the road on Tuesday night died in hospital. Photograph: Damien Eagers
Gardaí are pictured on Mac Uilliam Road in Tallaght, Dublin on Wednesday after a man (25) who was stabbed on the road on Tuesday night died in hospital. Photograph: Damien Eagers

A man has been arrested in Co Louth on suspicion of murdering a 25-year-old who was stabbed in a housing estate in Tallaght, Dublin on Tuesday.

Gardaí believe a localised dispute had flared earlier in the day and that the victim was fatally injured hours later in a second incident on Mac Uilliam Road.

The deceased was named locally as Ademola Giwa, a fitness coach and personal trainer.

A man in his 50s was also injured in the row, which happened at around 7.15pm, and was taken to hospital for treatment.

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The Irish Times understands that this man may have been injured while attempting to calm the situation.

The chief suspect for the stabbing, a man in his 20s, had fled the scene when gardaí arrived minutes after the attack.

While he remained unaccounted for on Tuesday night and for much of Wednesday, a suspect was later arrested in Dundalk on suspicion of murder. He was taken to Tallaght Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O'Connor said the community in Tallaght was trying to come to terms with what had happened.

He said gardaí were carrying out door to door inquiries in the area and he was confident local people would assist the investigation in any way they could.

“Obviously there is shock in the area and clearly a stabbing like this is terrible in any area,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen in Tallaght, of course, but this affects Tallaght. And there is a lot of upset and shock about what has happened. It is just extremely sad and it’s terrible for the community.”

Gardaí and paramedics arrived at Mac Uilliam Road and found two injured men, who were treated at the scene. It was immediately clear that the younger man was more seriously injured.

He was taken by ambulance to Tallaght University Hospital and later pronounced dead there. It is understood that he was stabbed in the neck during the altercation and lost a significant amount of blood.

The second man had sustained less serious injuries and his life was not regarded as being at risk. He remained in hospital on Wednesday but was expected to make a full recovery.

Gardaí believe the deceased, the injured man and the suspect in the case are all known to each other. They believe the suspect and the deceased man were at odds as part of a localised dispute and clashed on Tuesday.

The scene of the stabbing was sealed off on Tuesday evening and remained so into Wednesday, when it was examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or was in the area between 6.30pm and 7.15pm on Tuesday is asked to contact Tallaght Garda station on (01) 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times