An associate of the murdered prostitute, Sinead Kelly, was attacked in Benburb Street, Dublin, in the early hours of last Saturday morning. Senior Garda sources said last night that she was cut in the throat but survived the attack, and is now back practising her trade as a prostitute.
The Garda Press Office said she required seven stitches in the neck area. The incident is being investigated by gardai in the Bridewell. No arrests have been made.
Garda sources said they fear her assailant believes the woman may be able to identify the murderer of Ms Kelly, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the early hours of June 22nd, near the Grand Canal in Dublin. She was 21 years old.
Detectives investigating her murder questioned an Irishman in London this week. The man, who is facing a criminal charge in Britain, is free on police bail and agreed to meet two detectives from Pearse Street Garda station who are involved in the investigation.
The man has a record of petty crime in Dublin and is known to Pearse Street detectives. He is an associate of another man who was questioned in Pearse Street last month about the murder of Ms Kelly. That man was released without charge.
The Garda Press Office said yesterday evening that the questioning of the man in London had provided no breakthrough or new leads in the investigation, but detectives had "quite a few" more people to question.
Garda sources said the man questioned in London had left Ireland about two months ago.
Gardai said Ms Kelly was a heroin addict who also supplied the drug. She was known sometimes to supply other users "on tick", leaving her short of money to pay her own supplier.
Gardai believe she was murdered because she owed a relatively small amount of money to her supplier. Garda sources said it was less than £1,000.