Waterford stabbing: File to go to the DPP

Jack Power (25) was fatally stabbed at house in Dunmore East on Thursday

Gardaí are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after releasing without charge a teenager arrested for questioning about the fatal stabbing of a 25 year old man at a housing estate in Co Waterford in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Detectives investigating the murder of Jack Power at the Shanakiel estate in Dunmore East, at around 3.40am on Thursday morning, arrested a 17 year old youth at the scene and brought him to Waterford Garda Station for questioning about the fatal assault.

But officers released the teenager without charge at around 1am on Friday morning. Gardaí will now prepare a file on the fatal assault for the DPP as they continue with their inquiry into the killing.

Supt Chris Delaney, who is heading up the investigation, confirmed that experts from the Garda Technical Bureau in Dublin were due to complete their technical examination of the murder scene on Friday night and a divisional search team would continue searching in the Shanakiel area.

READ MORE

It’s understood the divisional search team will examine bins, green areas and woodlands adjacent to the estate while detectives are continuing with door to door inquiries. They are trying to establish what exactly happened in the run up to Mr Power’s death.

Supt Delaney re-iterated an appeal for witnesses to come forward, including anyone who may have had any interactions with Mr Power or the arrested teenager earlier on Wednesday night/Thursday morning anyone who has any information that can assist gardai with their investigations.

He said a Garda family liaison officer was working closely with Mr Power’s family, from Brownstown in Dunmore East. They were deeply shocked and traumatised by the fatal stabbing of the popular young man who worked as a fisherman with his father, Richard and younger brother, Ben.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Mr Power, who is survived by his parents, Richard and Loretta and brothers, Ben and Lee, will lie in repose at his family home at Brownstown in Dunmore East on Saturday from 5pm to 8pm.

Mr Power, who was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford, will then be removed to Our Lady’s Church in Carbally at 11.30am on Sunday for requiem mass with burial afterwards in Carbally New Cemetery.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times