The community in Drimnagh are providing "solid support" as detectives continue to investigate the murder of two men there last weekend, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said today.
He was joined in his condemnation of the attack on Pawel Kalite and Marius Szwajkos by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin and both men extended their sympathies to the men's families.
Gardaí released without charge a 16-year-old male late last night after questioning him in connection with the murder of the two men in their 20s on Benbulbin Road at around 7pm last Saturday.
The teenager had handed himself in for questioning at Sundrive Road Garda station in Crumlin. Two other teenagers, aged 19 and 15, have been questioned by gardaí and released without charge. Files will be sent to the DPP in all cases.
Commissioner Murphy, Assistant Commissioner Al McHugh and Deputy Commissioner Operations, Martin Callinan met with senior officers in Crumlin and members of the murder investigation team this afternoon.
Afterwards, Commissioner Murphy said: "Having spoken with the investigation team today I am satisfied that enquiries to date have been thorough and painstaking.
"Gardaí are focused on establishing primary evidence and bringing those responsible to justice. They are receiving solid support from the community in Drimnagh."
The investigation into the murders is progressing satisfactorily, he said, and he renewed a public appeal for information.
The investigation was upgraded to a double-murder inquiry after Pawel Kalite (29) died early yesterday morning in St James's Hospital. He had suffered stab wounds to the neck. His friend Marius Szwajkos (27) died in the same hospital on Monday from stab wounds to the head.
A screwdriver is understood to been the murder weapon in both cases.
The men were living with three other Polish nationals in a house on Benbulbin Road, just yards from the crime scene. They had been living and working in Ireland since last summer.
They were attacked after becoming involved in a verbal row with a group of teenagers outside shops when they refused to buy alcohol for them.
One of the teenagers left the scene and came back with a screwdriver. Their female housemate ran to their aid as they lay bleeding on the pavement.
Gardaí believe a large group of teenage boys and girls, some as young as 13, were at the scene.
Both victims' families have travelled to Ireland from Poland.
Archbishop Martin said alcohol appeared to have been a motivating factor in the incident.
"So many young lives have been ruined by this culture of drink and we have to address that, communities have to address that."
"It isn't the local community that is responsible for it, but the local community by standing together can speak out and try to reach out to these young people who are involved in violence and who look to violence," he said.
Drimnagh Parish and the Polish Chaplaincy have organised a remembrance service to be held for the men next Monday March 3rd. The service will be held at 7.30 pm in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Drimnagh.