Man arrested over ‘one punch homicide’ released

A man in his 40s arrested by gardaí over a fatal assault in Harold's Cross in south Dublin early on Saturday morning has been released without charge.

A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A man who died was a Good Samaritan who fell victim to a so-called one-punch homicide, gardaí believe.

Paddy Mullally, a father-of-one, was making his way home to Terenure after a night out when he stopped to intervene in an on-street row between a man and his partner in Harold's Cross.

While the inquiry into his killing is still at an early stage, gardaí believe the man involved in the altercation struck the 57-year-old, who then fell to the ground.

He was taken by ambulance to St James’s Hospital, but died from his injuries on Sunday morning .

The fatal assault occurred outside the Park View apartments on Harold’s Cross Road at about 4am on Saturday.The couple remained at the scene until the emergency services arrived.

They were spoken to by gardaí and the man, in his early 40s, was arrested and taken to Terenure Garda station.

It is understood the dead man had recently retired from his job as a driver with Guinness and had been out socialising with family and friends to mark his retirement.

He had continued his night out at a bar in Harold’s Cross that he regularly frequented.

When he was making his way home, he came upon the couple arguing and intervened, only to be fatally injured.

Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses. They are particularly appealing to anyone who was in the area between Harold’s Cross Bridge and Terenure between 3.30am and 4am on Saturday to contact the incident room in Terenure Garda Station on 01 6666473/74, the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111 or any Garda Station.