Gardaí have launched a murder investigation into the stabbing of a man who died following an attack in a Tallaght housing estate in Dublin yesterday morning.
Gary Weisley (22) was stabbed a number of times near his home in Swiftbrook Avenue, Jobstown, Tallaght, shortly after leaving a local pub, according to Chief Supt Pat Brehony of Tallaght Garda station.
Mr Weisley attempted to raise the alarm with a number of neighbours, following the attack which occurred at 3.30am, before collapsing on the corner to Swiftbrook Park. Neighbours called the ambulance services and gardaí in Tallaght were alerted to a "fracas" in the Swiftbrook Estate at about 3.30am.
Mr Weisley, who was not known to gardaí, was removed to the Adelaide-Meath Hospital where he died from his injuries at about 4am.
Chief Supt Brehony said that while there may have been a "minor incident" in the local pub earlier in the evening involving Mr Weisley, it was not a "major occurrence".
It is believed that Mr Weisley was followed from a local pub by a group of people with whom he had earlier had a disagreement and was subsequently stabbed a number of times on Swiftbrook Avenue.
Gardaí have yet to establish a motive for the murder.
Yesterday they were interviewing people who were drinking in the pub and residents of the Swiftbrook estate. A postmortem took place yesterday afternoon, while a number of items were removed for further technical examination.
Chief Supt Brehony said that the local community "was shocked by the stabbing.
"It's quite a good area, with law-abiding people in the area."
Neighbours yesterday recalled Mr Weisley's frantic efforts to raise the alarm before collapsing from his stab wounds.
He knocked on doors and rang door bells as he fled those who had assaulted him.
The windows of one house were smashed, as were the windows of a white van in the driveway.
One neighbour recalled how she had awoken to cries of "Gary, get up, get up" and arrived outside to find an ambulance attending to the young man.
"I'm still shaking," she said. "I can't believe this is after happening.
Another neighbour, Patrick Foley, told how news of the incident had spread throughout the community within hours. He said the estate was normally quiet and peaceful.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O'Connor described the killing as "outrageous".
He said Tallaght had the third-largest population centre in Ireland and it had just one Garda station.
Gardaí in Tallaght last night were appealing for anyone who was in the Swiftbrook area between 1am and 5am and who may have information to contact them at 01-6666000.