GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the murder of a man who was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver at the weekend were last night still searching for a third teenager whom they believe was involved in the incident.
A second man was fighting for his life after he was stabbed in the throat in the attack in Drimnagh, Dublin, just before 7pm on Saturday.
Two teenagers have already been arrested and questioned about the incident.
The deceased, Marius Szwajkos from Szczucin in Poland, was attacked outside a row of shops on Benbulbin Road. The 27-year-old was with a Polish friend when they became involved in what the Garda described as a minor verbal altercation with a number of local teenagers.
One of the group left the scene and returned a short time later armed with a screwdriver. He stabbed Mr Szwajkos in the back of the head before stabbing the other man in the neck.
Both of the injured men were taken by ambulance to St James's Hospital. Mr Szwajkos died from his injuries on Monday. His injured friend remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The injured man has been unconscious since the incident. Tests are due to be carried out today to determine his levels of brain activity.
Gardaí believe the victims were set upon by a group of three local teenagers. The two victims were living in a rented house close to the murder scene. They were staying at the house with another Polish man and two women.
The victims have been living in Ireland since last summer and had been working in the construction sector. They were described by locals as quiet and hard-working.
Fr Martin Cosgrave, the parish priest of Mourne Rd parish where the attack took place, said there was "a sense of shock, revulsion and devastation" in the area.
"It behoves all of us in the community to make sure that whoever is responsible for this, that that doesn't go unaddressed."
He added the violent attack was particularly tragic because it had claimed the life of a hard-working man who was contributing to the Irish economy while living far from home.
Gardaí were last night making preparations to help establish a fund for the victims' families, some of whom arrived in the Republic yesterday.
Fr Cosgrave said he would accommodate anybody who wanted to offer "practical help" to the families. Dublin City Council is providing accommodation to the men's relatives for the duration of their stay in Ireland. It was unclear last night when the remains of the deceased remains would be repatriated to Poland.
On Monday gardaí arrested a 19-year-old at an address in Inchicore, Dublin. He was questioned at Sundrive Road Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
A second youth, aged 16, was also questioned after he presented himself at Crumlin Garda station late on Monday night. He was also questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The pair were due to be released last night, with a file expected to be prepared for the DPP.
The third teenager gardaí believe was involved in the attack was still being sought by the investigating team last night.
A number of weapons were recovered close to the scene. Gardaí believe these were being carried by teenagers who were at or close to the scene and that they were dumped when the double stabbing took place.
The weapons were being forensically examined last night. However, gardaí believe they have not yet recovered the murder weapon.
Informed sources said, while the victims were from Poland, there was no evidence to suggest the attack was racially motivated.
