A FURTHER two people have been arrested as part of the investigating into the stabbing murder of teenager David Byrne (19) last weekend, bringing to 10 the number of arrests so far.
The latest arrests were two men in their 20s.
They were detained in west Dublin on suspicion of withholding information about Mr Byrne’s murder in Inchicore, south Dublin, last Saturday night.
Gardaí believe the men may have information on the motive for the fatal attack on Mr Byrne.
They are being detained under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Pearse Street and Kevin Street Garda stations and can be held for up to seven days.
A 17-year-old youth who was detained on Tuesday for questioning about the murder was still being held last night.
Another seven teenagers, ranging from 13 to 17 years in age, have been released from custody following their arrests. These included two boys aged 13 and two teenage girls.
Of the eight teenagers arrested this week, four were detained on suspicion of withholding information about the murder, while four were held for questioning directly in relation to the murder.
One of the four questioned directly in relation to the murder is the chief suspect in the case.
A file on the alleged involvement in the murder of some of the seven released without charge is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardaí believe they know the identity of the four teenagers who chased Mr Byrne before one of the group caught up with him and fatally stabbed him.
The attack is believed to have been part of a row over a modest drugs debt and a personal dispute between Mr Byrne and some of his attackers.
Gardaí believe Mr Byrne, a petty criminal involved in a minor way in the drugs trade, came out of his home at the Davitt House complex on Davitt Road, Drimnagh, just after 10pm on Saturday.
In a planned attack, he was chased by a gang of four teenagers or young men across a bridge over the Grand Canal and into the nearby Emmet Court residential complex in Inchicore.
One of the gang caught up with Mr Byrne in the courtyard in Emmet Court and stabbed him several times in the back and side as his accomplices kept lookout.
When gardaí and paramedics arrived at the scene just before 10.30pm Mr Byrne was still alive. He was taken by ambulance to St James’s Hospital. However, efforts to save him failed and he was pronounced dead at 11.45pm.
A murder investigation began immediately.
The fatal attack was captured on CCTV cameras but the four men who chased and attacked Mr Byrne hid their faces with hoods. However, they were spotted with their hoods down on another camera later on Saturday night.