GARDAÍ IN Cork last night opened a murder inquiry following the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old man in the city in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Mark Hanlon, father-of-one from Lotamore, Mayfield, died at Cork University Hospital around 3am yesterday after being taken there following an assault on Infirmary Road near the city centre.
Gardaí have established that Mr Hanlon had been attending a party at a second storey apartment in an apartment complex on Infirmary Road when a row broke out about 2am.
They believe the row spilled out from the apartment complex on to Infirmary Road, where Mr Hanlon was attacked and suffered a serious stab wound to the upper body.
The emergency services were alerted and Mr Hanlon was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery but died later from his injuries.
Gardaí arrested a 24-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman at the scene and both were brought to the Bridewell Garda station for questioning about the attack.
Both, who were resident at the flat, were detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to 24 hours before being either released or charged.
Although both were arrested at the scene for a suspected assault offence, questioning was suspended for a number of hours and gardaí did not begin interviewing the two until around midday yesterday.
Meanwhile gardaí have also begun interviewing a number of other people who were attending the party at the apartment, which gardaí believe began when people began watching the FA Cup final on TV.
Gardaí, under Supt Barry McPolin of nearby Anglesea Street Garda station, also cordoned off the apartment and a large section of roadway on Infirmary Road and nearby Sawmill Street. A Garda technical team began a forensic examination of both the apartment and the roadway, as well as a large section of footpath on Infirmary Road – from South Terrace to Langford Row.
Garda technical experts were also searching for a weapon – possibly a breadknife – which they believe was used in the fatal stabbing of Mr Hanlon.
State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy carried out a postmortem examination on Mr Hanlon’s body at Cork University Hospital yesterday evening, which confirmed he died a violent death.
Gardaí were also planning to study CCTV footage from security cameras in the area, including those at the junction of South Terrace and Infirmary Road, in the hope that it might throw light on what happened.
Supt McPolin appealed to anyone who might have been in the Infirmary Road area between 1.30am and 2.30am and had seen anything suspicious to contact them at Anglesea Street station on 021-4520000.
Gardaí were yesterday trying to trace Mr Hanlon’s last known movements, and to discover what time he went to the party, which they believe could have been attended by upwards of 10 people.
