Irish man killed in Lanzarote named

An Irish man killed while on holidays on the Spanish island of Lanzarote has been named as Derek Cumiskey (18) from Dublin.

An Irish man killed while on holidays on the Spanish island of Lanzarote has been named as Derek Cumiskey (18) from Dublin.

Police in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands opened a murder investigation after Mr Cumiskey was beaten with an iron bar in the early hours of Wednesday in the Puerto del Carmen resort.

To think this has happened to Derek it has just sent a shock through the whole school community here
Phil Gray, director of St Augustine's School

Mr Cumiskey, from Townsend Street in Dublin, had just completed his Junior Certificate. He is believed to have been returning to his hotel about 5.30am after a night out with friends. At least two men are being sought in connection with the killing.

There were conflicting reports from Lanzarote last night about how the fatal incident occurred. One source maintained it was a straight fight between two groups, while another referred to a road rage incident.

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Mr Cumiskey was the youngest of five children. His father, John, described him as a young man who would "do anything for anybody".

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Cumiskey said his son loved football and was a Manchester United supporter. "That was his pride and joy."

One of Mr Cumiskey's sisters, Joanne, was with him on holidays. His other two sisters flew to Lanzarote this morning.

Phil Gray director of St Augustine's school in Blackrock where the young man was a pupil, said his violent death had been "an awful shock".

"We certainly would never, ever have expected anything like that to have happened to Derek," she said. Mr Cumiskey was overall student of the year, she said.

"I think that in itself says an awful lot about Derek. He was just so considerate of other people. The staff would always have found him gentle and very caring and also very responsible."

The Department of Foreign Affairs is liaising with the Cumiskey family.