The investigation into the stabbing of a 33-year-old man in Co Louth last month has been upgraded to a murder inquiry after the victim died in hospital, the gardai revealed this evening.
Claudio Fernandes, a Brazilian national, died yesterday in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he was being treated after being stabbed in Duleek on Sunday July 29th.
A 17-year-old male was arrested the next day has already appeared in court on assault charges.
Gardaí say the victim, who had been living in the nearby village of Bellewstown, was attacked during a row.
He underwent surgery in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital to remove a bone from his skull but died last night.
"The status of this investigation has now been upgraded to murder," the Garda spokesman said.
The State Pathologist has completed a post mortem and found Mr Fernandes died as a result of a stab wound.