Gardaí investigating the murder of a 31-year-old man who was stabbed to death in Cork City believe that CCTV footage will play a crucial part in their investigation.
Detectives have begun harvesting CCTV footage from streets near where the Ukrainian father of one was attacked shortly before 8pm on Monday evening as he returned home to his apartment in Camden Court on Carroll’s Quay.
The man, who has been in Ireland for more than 25 years and who was living in Camden Court with his wife and infant daughter, had left his apartment at about 7.30pm on Monday to walk to Shandon Street, about 700 metres away, to get some food.
He met a friend on Shandon Street and was returning alone to his apartment when gardaí believe he encountered a group of up to six people on Lower John Street.
READ MORE
Detectives believe the man got into a row with at least one member of the group and suffered a stab wound to the chest. He made it back to his apartment before he collapsed and his wife raised the alarm.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed to the morgue at Cork University Hospital where a postmortem was carried out by State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis.
Gardaí have not released the results of the postmortem for operational reasons.
Meanwhile, Garda technical experts, who had begun a forensic examination of both the man’s apartment and an area on Lower John Street, continued with their work on Tuesday as they sought to gather DNA and other evidence.
It is understood that one line of inquiry is that the deceased was the victim of a random attack in an area that is known to be frequented by drug dealers and users.
Garda sources say that CCTV footage from the Lower John Street, Knapps Square, Devonshire Street and Carroll’s Quay area will be critical to identifying the killer or killers.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward, particularly taxi drivers and motorists who were in the area between 7.30pm and 9pm and may have camera footage.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda station on (021) 4558510 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
An incident room has been set up at Watercourse Road Garda station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed.
Gardaí have also appointed a family liaison officer to assist the man’s family who were moved to alternative accommodation to allow for a technical examination of their apartment.
