Gardaí believe Malahide fatal attack happened in front garden of house

A man in his 60s was stabbed to death in a shock attack in the garden of a house yesterday morning.

A man in his 20s, known to the victim, was arrested in connection with the fatal assault shortly after the incident unfolded at the house at Gainsborough Lawn, Malahide, Co. Dublin. He was being held on Sunday morning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Gardaí found the victim unresponsive when they attended the scene at the upmarket north Dublin housing estate shortly after the attack, which occurred at around 8.30am.

The man was declared dead at the scene and his body was removed yesterday afternoon.

The office of the State Pathologist was notified, and a postmortem will be carried out on the victim’s remains.

The scene was also preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

It is understood the attack took place in the garden of the house following a row.

Gardaí believe there may have been witnesses to the attack. They have appealed for them to come forward.

A source described the fatal attack as a ‘tragic incident that has caused shockwaves around the town’.

They said: ‘The arrested man is very well known to the unfortunate victim. It’s really a shocking attack to happen in a quiet, residential housing estate.’

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Cathal Haughey said: ‘It’s absolutely shocking for the whole community. It’s a very close knit community. The whole town of Malahide is shocked and obviously thoughts and prayers are with the victim at this time.’

Councillor Eoghan O’Brien, also Fianna Fáil, added: ‘It’s not something you expect to hear on a Saturday morning and obviously our thoughts are with loved ones of the victim. It’s tragic and there’s a sense of shock in the community.’

A Garda spokesman yesterday said a senior investigating officer had been appointed to lead the inquiry, and an incident room was established at Malahide Garda Station.

A family liaison officer was assigned to support the family of the deceased.

The spokesman said: ‘Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who were in the area of Gainsborough Lawn, Malahide, Co. Dublin, between 8am and 8.45am on Saturday, February 8.

‘Additionally, individuals with video recordings, including motorists with dash cams, from the area within the timeframe are asked to provide footage to investigating gardaí.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact Malahide Garda Station at (01) 666 4600 or the Garda Confidential Line.’

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.