The teenager who died in a knife attack in the Jobstown area of Tallaght in Dublin had received death threats in recent months, an informed local source said.
The victim, named locally as 17 year-old Reece Cullen, was from the area. His mother had only died in September, and was survived by her three sons.
The teenager was enrolled in an alternative education programme for children who had left the mainstream school system .
He sustained fatal stab wounds in the attack which happened in Kilclare Crescent at about 3.30pm on Thursday. He was later taken to Tallaght Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
The incident occurred in a cul-de-sac situated immediately across the road from a busy public park. The scene was sealed off on Thursday evening as gardaí carried out a technical examination.
No arrests have yet been made and gardaí say an investigation is ongoing. Although gardaí have not yet discussed a motive for the killing, a source said it was well-known that threats had been made to the victim’s life in the months leading up to the attack. However it has not been established if these threats had any connection with his death.
Mr Cullen is said to have gone through a difficult period following the death of his mother, who was a popular figure in the locality.
South Dublin County Council representative Martina Genockey lives just around the corner from where the incident occurred, and she described the death as “tragic”.
“Everybody is absolutely in shock, it’s a devastating incident that has happened to a young lad at only 17. It’s very hard for everybody to believe, it’s very tragic. We really have to encourage anybody who’s seen anything or noticed anything to go to the gardaí,” said the Labour councillor.
“It was in the middle of the day in a very public area. It’s a road just across from a public park where there’s a swimming pool and there’s a playground being built,” she added.
Ms Genockey said that while violent incidents are known to occur in the wider Jobstown area on occasion, she could not recall hearing of any similar incidents in that particular part of the suburb close to Tallaght prior to the stabbing.
Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart described the attack as “deeply frightening”.
“While the exact circumstances of the incident are unclear, this is a deeply frightening incident to have occurred for all in the locality, in particular the parents of young teenagers.
“Irrespective of any details, a young boy has very tragically lost his life and a family has been left shattered. I urge anyone who has information, or who may have seen anything suspicious, to alert the gardaí as soon as possible,” he said.
Friends on social media paid tribute to the boy descrining him as “such a nice person”
Anyone witnesses who may have been in the Kilclare area between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on Thursday have been asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any Garda station.