A murder investigation was under way in Cork last night following the fatal stabbing of a man in a city centre apartment building.
The dead man has been named as Mr Richard Daly (25), Buttevant, Co Cork, who lived with his girlfriend at Tower Street. It is understood they had one child.
According to Garda sources, a group of people had gathered in the apartment but it was unclear last night if they had been watching the World Cup game between Ireland and Spain. It appears that a row broke out some time before 5 p.m. and in the fracas, Mr Daly suffered a serious stab wound to the chest.
Two women in the flat, including, it is believed, Mr Daly's girlfriend, ran to a local corner shop and raised the alarm. When gardaí arrived, he was in a serious condition.
He was brought to the South Infirmary Hospital but was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out today.
Last night gardaí, led by Supt Kieran McGann, interviewed members of the group who were in the apartment at the time of the incident and it is understood that a definite line of inquiry is being followed.
Meanwhile, gardaí in Dublin have launched a murder inquiry after a man was shot dead in Clonsilla at the weekend. Mr Stephen O'Hara (24), Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla was found dead at the entrance to a house at Elmwood Close at 1.30 a.m. on Saturday.
A post-mortem examination showed that he died from a gunshot wound to the throat.
It is understood he was visiting the house when the shooting took place. Gardaí said Mr O'Hara, who was single, had staggered out of the house and collapsed. He was dead on arrival at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown.
A man was stabbed in the neck during a row at a house in Cushlawn Park, Ballymun, Dublin early yesterday. He sustained three slashes to his neck, face and arms. His injuries were described by gardaí as not life-threatening.