Inquest shown TV footage of man's stabbing

A jury at the Dublin City Coroner's Court has returned a verdict of unlawful killing of a Chinese student after being shown CCTV footage of the man's fatal stabbing.

Qui Hong Xiang (22) died after he was stabbed during a knife fight involving up to 40 men on O'Connell Street, Dublin in July, 2002.

No charges have been brought in relation to Mr Qui's killing, though four men have been convicted in relation to other charges arising from the same fight.

The footage, supplied by gardaí, shows a man wearing a black jacket and T-shirt bearing a lighter-coloured motif stabbing Mr Qui. However, it is not clear whether this was the injury which caused his death.

At the beginning of the footage, taken at about 1.30am on July 10th, 2002, Mr Qui is pictured standing on the central median of O'Connell Street close to the Parnell Monument in the company of three other men. One of the men, wearing a baseball-style jacket, is seen to cross the road to the eastern side concealing a long-bladed knife behind his back.

A second group of around 10 men are waiting outside the Eircom building at the corner of Cathal Brugha Street and O'Connell Street. These men also produce knives and a frenzied attack ensues with several other men, all believed to be Chinese, becoming involved.

Mr Qui then crosses the road and it appears from the tape that he is assaulted behind a phone box. He then emerges from behind the box and is seen to be stabbed, before fleeing northwards in the direction of Parnell Square.

The court heard that shortly after the incident Mr Qui was found lying outside the entrance of the Rotunda hospital by a passing motorist. He was taken to the Mater hospital and was pronounced dead at 2.25am.

Det Insp Nicholas McGrath told the court that the two rival groups of Chinese nationals had earlier been at a function at a city centre pub.Gardaí believed the knife fight resulted from a territorial dispute between the groups involving "females under their control", Det Insp McGrath said. A file containing more than 200 statements and the CCTV footage was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who decided not to press charges in relation to Mr Qui's death.

Former chief State pathologist Dr John Harbison said Mr Qui had died from a single stab wound to the heart, he had also sustained a separate superficial cut to the chest and one to the forehead.

Dublin city coroner Dr Brian Farrell recommended a verdict of unlawful killing by a person unidentified, which was accepted by the jury.