Halloween horror at Liberties flats

On Halloween night local man Lorcan O’Reilly (21) died after being stabbed multiple times at the scene of the Oliver Bond flats, Dublin 8.

Gardai have launched a murder investigation and nine people, male and female, have been arrested over the last two weeks. Most recently on Monday 16th of November, five men were arrested before investigating gardaí arrested a further four people on Friday 20th. The arrested people have been held at Kevin Street, Kilmainham, Donnybrook and Sundrive Road garda stations.

This comes after a suspect (15) presented himself to the gardai at Kevin Street garda station on the 9th of November. The young male, who allegedly has links to gangland figure ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson, arrived at the station accompanied by his grandparents after it was feared he had fled the country.

O’Reilly and his family resided in Robert Emmet Close in the south inner city, close to where the knife attack happened.

Memorial at site of stabbing (Photo- Kevin Hughes)

The incident occurred just after 2.30am when O’Reilly stood in to break up a fight at a bonfire. He was rushed to St James’ hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time after. When superintendent Paddy McMenamin spoke to the media after, he said: ‘”Lorcan was a 21-year-old man. He came from the locality, a very respectable family in the community and the family are devastated by this tragic death.”

Liberties local Karen Timbs spoke to The Liberty about how shocking an incident this was for the community. “I was really shocked and upset to hear that something like this could happen on my doorstep, especially as it was someone trying to intervene and help someone in trouble.” She added that it’s ”getting to the frightening stage now where life is worthless”.

When asked if more incidents like this could be avoided she told The Liberty that she “would like to see more members of the Gardai patrolling the area, I think I’ve seen them on the beat twice in my three years of living in the Liberties.”

She concluded by saying that “the incident that happened wouldn’t put me off the area, I love where I’m living and I’ve never had any trouble. However this has been a tough time for the Liberties and I think they should be doing everything they can to ensure people’s safety here. As a woman I wouldn’t be completely comfortable walking alone at night despite the area being relatively safe.”

There are approximately 30 detectives working on this murder investigation with local Gardai who are looking for any information that will help to give them a clearer light into exactly what happened at the flats complex that night. To help in their search, there has been an incident room set up as hundreds of inquiries have been made.

Gardaí are urging anyone with information or anything that can help them with the incident to contact Kevin Street Garda station on their number- (01) 666 9400.