Student stabbed to death

A 17-year-old man has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Leaving Certificate student in the Ballsbridge area of Dublin at the weekend.

Seán Nolan (18) from Griffith Court, Fairview, Dublin was stabbed several times in the chest during a row which broke out on Waterloo Road around 4am on Saturday.

A 17-year-old man was brought before a special sitting of Dublin District Court at the Bridewell on Saturday night. He was charged with assault causing harm and was released on bail, to appear at the Children's Court, Smithfield, on June 1st.

Mass was attended yesterday by schoolmates of Seán Nolan, who was a pupil at St Joseph's School in Fairview and was due to sit his Leaving Certificate next month.

Classmates gathered at the school for a special service at 3pm to remember him and pray for his family.

On Friday evening, he had gone out with a group of friends to celebrate the end of the school term.

He was walking with two of his friends near the junction of Baggot Street and Waterloo Road on their way to a party shortly before 4am on Saturday morning.

They stopped to ask directions to the party and a row ensued, resulting in the fatal stabbing.

Mr Nolan was able to walk 20 metres before he collapsed. He was taken to St Vincent's University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He was the second-eldest of four children, with a younger brother in junior infants and a sister in first year in secondary school.

Neighbours in Griffith Court, a quiet cul-de-sac off Philipsburgh Avenue in Fairview, were rallying round to offer support to the dead boy's parents.

One neighbour described him as a lovely guy.

"Everyone in the estate knew him. He spent his weekends cutting grass for neighbours to earn some pocket money and he came from a lovely family. It is unbelievable," she said. "The children are finding it hard to believe they will never see him walking up the road again."

Mr Nolan was also popular among his peers, and was described by a friend as outgoing and full of fun, with an interest in music and football. "He had loads of friends and he was liked by everyone. He'll be missed," she said.

Details of his removal have not yet been released, but it is likely to take place in St Vincent de Paul Church in Marino.