An Athlone man working as a taxi driver in Frankfurt was fatally stabbed at the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night.
Mr David Redmond (46), died at the wheel after being stabbed in central Frankfurt early on Saturday morning.
The remains of Mr Redmond, who had lived in Germany for the past 23 years, will be flown to Ireland later this week, a Department spokeswoman said.
A man wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans stabbed Mr Redmond once in the back and fled on foot, according to eye witnesses.
No motive has been ascribed to the incident according to a police spokesman. He was unable to confirm claims that the assailant escaped with a small sum of money.
A keen skier and boatsman who recently acquired his skipper's licence, Mr Redmond was unmarried and is survived by four brothers and a sister. One of his brothers lives in Frankfurt.
A family friend described Mr Redmond as "a warm, loving man who was full of life and loved to return to Ireland wherever possible".
Family members flew to Frankfurt yesterday to oversee the return of his remains.