GARDAI are expected to examine video footage from late night buses and street cameras after a teenager was apparently kicked to death on a busy Dublin street early yesterday morning.
Mr Brian Ruth (18), of Drumcarra Avenue, Tallaght, was pronounced dead at about 1.30 a.m., shortly after a fight broke out on Westmoreland Street in the city centre between two groups of young men.
The incident was one of two killings within the space of two hours. At 3 a.m., Mr John Keane (27) was shot in the garden of his bungalow home in O'Malley Park on the outskirts of Limerick.
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, carried out a post mortem examination on the Dublin victim yesterday afternoon.
Gardai have pieced together the events surrounding the Westmoreland Street killing from witness statements. The incident appears to have started at about 12.50 pm. Mr Ruth, who was with two friends, bumped into another man who was with a young woman.
The man, believed to be in his 20s, shouted at Mr Ruth and pushed him in the back as he walked away. One of Mr Ruth's friends saw this happening and went over and punched the man. Then Mr Ruth and two friends walked on towards the fast food restaurant, Abrakebabra. Three of the man's friends approached them and a fight broke out between the two groups.
According to one witness three men approached Mr Ruth as he backed away. One of them threw a kung fu type kick, according to one witness, and Mr Ruth was knocked to the ground near the bus stop outside Bewleys.
All three men surrounded him and kicked and punched him. One woman said she was screaming at someone to stop the fight. Although there were several men standing around no one intervened.
A Garda called to the scene called an ambulance and Mr Ruth was removed to the Meath Hospital.
One Garda source described the assault as "vicious", although it was unclear who had started the fight. Dozens of people are thought to have witnessed the killing, as there were up to 14 late night buses scheduled to leave from the bus stop where Mr Ruth was killed and in surrounding streets.
Witnesses appear to be unclear where the men went after the attack. Some said they may have disappeared into the crowd. Gardai were hoping that taxi drivers who may have been working the night shift would come forward last night with information.
One eye witness said the incident took just minutes. "It was just senseless. There was a lot of pushing and shoving and then some guy is killed." He said one of the men had a broken nose and his face was covered in blood. The dead man did not look badly hurt.
The Garda Press Office last night said it had a description of suspects. All were smartly dressed and clean shaven.
One wore an orange or cream loose top and baggy trousers. He was 5 feet 10 inches, about 26 years old and of stocky build with dark hair. The second was 5 feet 9 inches and between 25 and 26, wearing a dark blazer, dark jeans and dark brown shoes. He was described as "chubby".
The third man was about 5 feet 10 inches and 24 years old, and had blond sandy tight cut hair. He was wearing a check shirt and blue jeans and may have been wearing white trainers. He was of medium build.
