Gardai believe the murder of a man in north-west Dublin may have been a case of mistaken identity. The man appeared to have been stabbed in the chest and head in the bedroom of a house in Mulhuddart. The murdered man was named as Mr John Murray (34), a single man from North Road in Finglas, Dublin, who worked as a cook in the US embassy.
On Wednesday evening he called to visit a man who lived in a neighbouring house in Parslickstown Green, a new development of houses outside Mulhuddart village.
Gardai said Mr Murray and the man then left the man's house to visit another house on the estate, accompanied by the man's daughter.
Later that night, Mr Murray's friend left the house and his daughter and Mr Murray stayed on watching television with the woman who lived in the house until about 3.30 a.m.
The woman's child - a 10-month old baby - was also in the house at the time.
Sometime after 3.30 a.m. Mr Murray went to sleep in a bedroom and the two women remained downstairs.
Around 4.30 a.m. four men called to the house. It is thought that one of the men waited outside.
The other three called at the door and are believed to have forced their way in when the door was opened. They ran upstairs and the incident is believed to have taken place almost immediately.
Gardai and an ambulance were called and Mr Murray was pronounced dead.
The wounds were inflicted from the front and Mr Murray's body was found face down. There was a lot of blood and it appeared that he had been stabbed.
A senior Garda source said, however, that it had been impossible to determine immediately whether Mr Murray had been stabbed and it was possible that he had been kicked to death. Several knives were found at the scene and they were examined to determine if they were used in the murder.
The house was sealed off and the newly-appointed deputy State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, arrived yesterday to conduct a preliminary examination of the body.
A neighbour said a young couple lived in the house with a baby girl. It is understood that the woman had two children.
The man worked in a local factory, the neighbour said, and the couple had moved in about six months previously. The neighbour knew the couple by their first names and described them as friendly.
The smart semi-detached house had a "milk dial" set at nil in the front window and there was a light on in an upstairs bedroom yesterday morning. Coats were hung on the banister and there were children's toys on the floor of the hall.
Gardai were piecing together Mr Murray's movements yesterday and believe he may have gone for a drink before calling to his friend's house in the estate.
Supt Malachy Mulligan of Cabra Garda station, who is leading the investigation, said gardai were appealing for information.
"We're looking for anybody who saw activity near the house between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. yesterday and anybody who may have seen the deceased prior to his death." Gardai are also appealing for information on the car or cars the men arrived and left in.
An incident room has been set up and the telephone number is (01) 821 3023.
