A man fatally attacked in Bray, Co Wicklow, beside a children’s playground was targeted as part of a local dispute, investigating gardaí suspect.
He has been named locally as Willie Moorehouse (36), Half Moon Halting Site, Windgates, about 5km south of Bray.
Garda search teams were carrying out a significant search operation close to the Bray park and playground where Mr Moorehouse was found unresponsive on Sunday evening, with apparent stab wounds.
The Garda personnel were searching open land, and hedging and undergrowth, in a bid to find the murder weapon. A number of items were retrieved and have been sent for examination.
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A large number of online tributes have been paid to Mr Moorehouse the day after his killing, with some referencing the fact he was about to become a father again.
“Can’t believe I’m writing this, rest in peace uncle Willie,” said one. “Hope you get the best bed in heaven. You won’t be forgotten uncle, (the) most harmless person there ever was.”
Another person paying tribute said: “Just a cruel world. A poor, harmless, boy he was, knew him since he was only a child down the lane. Had (his) whole life ahead of him, gone straight to heaven. May he rest in peace in heaven.”
Gardaí were alerted to the fatal attack on Boghall Road shortly after 6pm on Sunday and, though paramedics treated the victim at the scene, he was pronounced dead a short time later, and the area was sealed off as a crime scene.
While gardaí were awaiting the results of a postmortem to inform the direction of their inquiry, all of the resources of a murder investigation have already been committed to the case.
Gardaí believe a number of other people were in the area of the playground when the fatal altercation arose and are hopeful they may be able to aid the investigation. Detectives were trying to piece together the dead man’s last movements in a bid to build a picture of how the fatal attack occurred.
It appears to have taken place after a fight broke out between a number of adults at the Ballywaltrim playground, which is popular with local children and their families.
A number of national schools are very close to the crime scene and at least one, Bray School Project National School, was due to be closed on Monday to facilitate the Garda’s forensic examination.
Garda Headquarters said the investigation team, based at Bray Garda station, was “investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death” of the man. It confirmed the victim was unresponsive when gardaí and paramedics arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The scene is currently preserved for forensic and technical examination,” the Garda added in a statement on Sunday night. “The Office of the State Pathologist and local Coroner have been notified. The services of the Garda Technical Bureau have been requested.”
The scene was due to undergo examination throughout Monday, and gardaí in Bray have appealed for anyone with information to contact investigators in Bray.
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