A MAN in his 30s was in custody in Limerick last night on suspicion of the murder of a father of two who suffered multiple stab wounds in a knife attack.
The body of Martin Purcell was found in his rented flat on Wickham Street in Limerick city last Friday morning.
The popular 54-year-old suffered multiple injuries, including a stab wound to his neck.
Detectives investigating the murder of the former Eircom worker arrested a man in the city centre yesterday afternoon.
The suspect was being questioned about the murder at Henry Street Garda station last night under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
It is understood a number of items including the possible murder weapon were recovered over the weekend.
The crime scene was extended yesterday to Upper Gerald Griffin Street where a property was sealed off as part of the inquiry. Gardaí were still working to establish a motive for the murder, which may have taken place up to 24 hours before the body was found.
A postmortem carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar confirmed that Mr Purcell died as a result of multiple stab wounds.
The victim, who had never come to the attention of the Garda before, was last seen in the Wickham Street area on Wednesday and it is understood the middle of last week is a critical focal point in the investigation.
Gardaí have confirmed that there was no sign of forced entry to Mr Purcell’s flat, which suggests he might have known his assailant.
While the precise motive remains unclear, officers do not believe the murder was sexually motivated and say the victim’s body was not mutilated as was reported in some media.
Yesterday’s arrest was described as a significant breakthrough in the inquiry, but gardaí were still appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Supt Frank O’Brien, who is leading the murder inquiry, described Mr Purcell as a popular member of the local community.
“Martin was a well liked member of the community. He comes from a very well known family here in Limerick and worked all his life,” Supt O’Brien said. “Unfortunately in recent years he suffered a degree of disability, which prevented him from carrying out a full-time job, but nevertheless he was very well liked in the area,” he said.
Friends of Mr Purcell, who was separated for many years, described the father of two grown up children as a “popular, generous man” who enjoyed a few pints and was a regular in Flannery’s pub on Wickham Street.
He is survived by his son Barry and daughter Amy, sisters Angela and Susan and brother Barry.
His removal will take place from Crosses funeral home tomorrow evening at 7.30pm.
Funeral Mass will take place at 11am on Wednesday at St Brigid’s Church with burial afterwards in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery extension.