Two men have been arrested in connection with the death of Willie Moorehouse in Bray, Co Wicklow at the weekend.
The 36-year-old, a father of six from the Half Moon Halting Site, Windgates, died after being found unresponsive near a playground in the town on Sunday evening, with apparent stab wounds.
Detectives have recovered a number of weapons from around the crime scene and are trying to establish if a group fight had occurred before they were called to the scene.
An Garda Síochána said on Tuesday that two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, had been arrested on Monday evening in the Bray area in connection with “serious offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994″.
“Both are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in County Wicklow.”
The force said a postmortem was to be carried out on Tuesday and the results of this would assist in determining the course of the investigation. However, all of the resources of a murder inquiry have already been committed to the case.
“A full examination of the scene has been carried out by the Garda Technical Bureau and the cordon has been lifted,” a Garda statement added.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the incident room at Bray Garda station on 01-6665300 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Gardaí believe a number of other people were in the area of the playground when the fatal altercation arose and are hopeful they may be able to aid the investigation. Detectives were trying to piece together the dead man’s last movements in an attempt to build a picture of how the fatal attack occurred.
A large number of online tributes have been paid to Mr Moorehouse since his death, with some referencing the fact he was due to become a father for the seventh time.
“Can’t believe I’m writing this, rest in peace uncle Willie,” said one. “Hope you get the best bed in heaven. You won’t be forgotten uncle, (the) most harmless person there ever was.”
Another person said: “Just a cruel world. A poor, harmless, boy he was, knew him since he was only a child down the lane. Had (his) whole life ahead of him, gone straight to heaven. May he rest in peace in heaven.”
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