A MURDER investigation has begun following the death of a man who had been critically ill since being beaten and stabbed in in Crumlin, Dublin, almost two weeks ago.
The victim, who was attacked 12 days ago, has been named by gardaí as 35-year-old David Rooney, Durrow Road, Crumlin, Dublin.
Mr Rooney was assaulted just after 8.30pm on July 2nd on Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin.
Gardaí believe a number of men had gathered at the spot before a row occurred, during which the victim was stabbed and beaten.
Mr Rooney is believed to have known his attackers, but the reason for the fatal attack is unclear.
While a postmortem will not take place until today, officers believe the deceased was stabbed in the neck and head with an iron bar sharpened at the tip. No weapon has been found.
Mr Rooney was taken by ambulance to St James's Hospital, where he had remained since the assault. He was pronounced dead at the hospital on Saturday evening.
While the Crumlin area has been the scene in recent weeks of a number of shootings and other attacks linked to a gangland feud, gardaí are not linking Mr Rooney's killing to the conflict.
Officers investigating his death have appealed for the public's assistance.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who was in the Sundrive Road and Clonmacnoise green area on Wednesday, July 2nd, between 8.30pm and 8.45pm. An incident room has been set up at Sundrive Road Garda station, which can be reached at 01-6666600.
Meanwhile, gardaí investigating the death of 60-year-old Dennis Brennan in Dublin last weekend arrested the chief suspect in the case yesterday, a man from the Crumlin area.
Mr Brennan, a separated father of three, was found dead in his apartment at Bow Bridge, Kilmainham, Dublin, on Tuesday morning. There were no signs of a break-in at the property and gardaí believe he was most likely killed by somebody he let into his flat.
Mr Brennan's remains were found in the living room area of his home when a friend who could not contact him for several days called to check on him.
There were no signs of obvious trauma to his body. However, a postmortem revealed bruising around his neck.
Gardaí believe no weapon was used and that the fatal neck injuries were inflicted manually.
The man arrested yesterday is in his 30s. The Irish Times understands he was identified using footage from CCTV cameras in and around the Bow Bridge apartment complex.
The suspect was being questioned last night at Kilmainham Garda station.
He was being detained in Kilmainham under section four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 where he can be held without charge for up to 24 hours.
Garda sources said criminal charges may be put to the suspect as early as today, with an early morning court appearance a possibility.
Despite the apparent progress in the case, investigating Garda officers say they are still anxious to speak to taxi drivers who were working in the James Street, Bow Lane and Thomas Street areas, all in Dublin's south inner city, between 2am and 4am on Sunday, July 6th.
Anybody with information on Mr Brennan's death is asked to contact the gardaí in Kilmainham at 01-6669750.