The teenager who died after a violent incident outside a south Dublin hotel suffered a series of blows and kicks to the head.
A senior garda last night said the team of detectives on the case were continuing to take statements in Donnybrook Garda station and in the homes of witnesses to the attack.
A murder investigation was underway, he said. Mr Brian Murphy, of Ardilea, Clonskeagh, in south Dublin, who would have been 19 in 11 days' time, was assaulted by a group of young men outside Club Anabel at the Burlington Hotel at around 3.20 a.m. yesterday.
He had earlier attended the club. He was brought by ambulance to St Vincent's hospital but was pronounced dead at 4.57 a.m. Prof John Harbison carried out a post-mortem yesterday and confirmed he had died of head injures. It is understood his injuries were consistent with sustaining a beating to the face and kicks to the head as he fell to the ground close to the taxi rank outside the hotel.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the teenager being lifted off the ground and staggering away after the attack with friends. He later collapsed. Supt Gerard Philips yesterday appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forward.
He urged people who had attended the night-club or who were in the vicinity of Sussex Road around 3.30 a.m. to contact gardai at Donnybrook Garda station on (01) 6669200. Supt Philips confirmed gardai were examining a number of leads, including a report that a row had broken out between past pupils of two well-known boys' secondary schools.
"However, we have a complete open mind when we are talking with people," he added.
A crowd was present outside the hotel as the teenagers attending the club's student night were led out of the nightclub and gardai wish to talk to those who were present. An area around the front gate was cordoned off yesterday as technical experts examined the scene. Footage from video cameras inside and around the club was being examined by gardai yesterday.
However, it is understood a security camera does not survey the pavement outside the front gate. The teenager was one of a family of four and had attended a number of south Dublin boys' schools, concluding his second-level schooling in an intensive study school in the Leeson Street area.
Locals said he and his family were involved in a soccer club in Stillorgan and the teenager was said to be of slight build.
He had a summer job with a Dublin department store.
The general manager of the Burlington Hotel, Mr Peter McDermott, issued a brief statement yesterday.
"At around 3.30 a.m. this morning an incident took place at the taxi rank outside the Burlington Hotel which subsequently resulted in the tragic death of a young man.
"The management and staff of the hotel wish to convey their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man who died.
"The hotel will offer all possible assistance to the gardai in their ongoing investigation into this event and cannot comment further while these investigation are ongoing", the statement read.
Victim Support spokeswoman Ms Lillian McGovern yesterday called for the setting up of a special task force to examine the issue of youth violence.