GARDAI investigating a multiple stabbing incident in Dublin early yesterday said they were "pretty confident" of finding the attacker. "We know who he is and where he lives," gardai told The Irish Times. They were last night watching car ferries and Dublin Airport in case the man tried to flee the country.
Five people were stabbed in the incident, two seriously. But gardai said last night the condition of the two, a woman and a man, was being described by doctors as "comfortable".
The incident happened in St Jude's Gardens, a block of 25 Dublin Corporation flats behind Store Street Garda station. Gardai who questioned the victims said a row broke out in a night club in South Anne Street between a man and his girlfriend and his girlfriend's sister. The man assaulted his girlfriend in the vicinity of Trinity College on their way back to St Jude's Gardens.
The two women made their way home but were followed by the man, who had now acquired a knife. He knocked on the door of the flat, which was opened at about 5 a.m. by another male who was inside. This man was attacked with the knife but was not seriously injured.
Gardai say the girlfriend, who is 21, and her mother, who is 44, locked themselves into a bedroom but the attacker forced his way in.
He stabbed his girlfriend and her mother seriously. Her mother went on to a balcony and screamed for help, according to gardai. Neighbours heard the commotion and three men entered the apartment. The attacker stabbed all three, one seriously, and ran off.
Gardai said the man is known to them and has a criminal record. He is also known to all the people he attacked. "We have his name and address," gardai said. "He has no place to go".