A man suspected of murdering Limerick father of two Martin Purcell is not long out of prison and was well known to gardaí, it has emerged.
The suspect remained in Garda custody in Limerick city last night while consultations were ongoing with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions over whether to charge him with murder. The body of Mr Purcell (54) was found in his rented flat on Wickham Street last Friday morning.
Mr Purcell, a separated father of two, suffered multiple stab wounds in a frenzied knife attack.
If the DPP agrees to bring charges, he is likely to appear before Limerick District Court today.