Dutch police appeal for witnesses to fatal stabbing of Irishman

Dutch police have appealed for people who may have witnessed the fatal stabbing of an Irishman in Amsterdam to come forward.

Dutch police have appealed for people who may have witnessed the fatal stabbing of an Irishman in Amsterdam to come forward.

Police in the Dutch capital said the stabbing on Sunday night was "an act of horrible and unacceptable violence".

Damien Mooney (26) from Cloneen, Clogh, Co Kilkenny, was killed as he walked home alone after a night out with workmates.

The unmarried Irishman had been employed in an Irish pub for the past six months.

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His brother Liam travelled to Amsterdam yesterday to identify the remains, which were released after forensic examination.

According to a spokesman for the Irish Embassy, which is offering consular assistance to the Mooney family, his remains are expected to be flown back to Ireland within the next day or so.

A spokesman for the Amsterdam police, Leo Dorland, said: "There is nothing to suggest that there was a robbery involved. It is pure speculation to say that there was anything to do with a mugging and we know nothing about one.

"I have checked with the detectives on the case and as far as we know an argument turned into a struggle and a man pulled a knife and plunged it into the Irishman."

Mr Mooney was found by police at 6.15am on Sunday and was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital.

According to police, an assailant and at least one other person fled the scene.

The news was greeted with horror and disbelief by Mr Mooney's workmates at O'Donnells pub, one of Amsterdam's most popular Irish bars.

"He was exceptionally quiet and nice, it's difficult to understand how such a thing could have happened," said Harry Mulholland, acting manager of O'Donnells.

Fine Gael councillor John Brennan, who lives in Clogh, said the community had been "greatly saddened" to hear of Mr Mooney's death.

"It's awful to think that such a young man from here could be walking home from a night's work and be attacked and killed in this way. This is a close-knit community and the Mooney family are very well regarded here."

Mr Mooney is survived by his father, his older brother and a younger sister.