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LAST UPDATE | 15 Oct
A MALE TEENAGER has died following a suspected stabbing incident at a Tusla emergency residential unit in north Dublin.
Gardaí and emergency services responded to a call for assistance at the premises in Donaghmede, Dublin 13 shortly after 11am.
On arrival, a male teenager was discovered with serious injuries. He received treatment by paramedics, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
He is believed to have been a Ukrainian.
His body has been removed to Dublin City Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is due to be conducted tomorrow by State Pathologist, Dr Yvonne McCartney.
Gardaí say the results of the post-mortem examination will assist in determining the course of the investigation.
Gardaí and emergency services assisted “a number of other juveniles and adults” at the scene.
A second male teenager has been taken to a hospital in the Dublin Region for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
A woman was treated for non-life threatening injuries at the scene. She is receiving further medical attention at a hospital.
The incident is no longer active and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Gardaí said they are investigating all of the circumstances of the fatal incident.
A spokesperson said they are not looking for any other person in relation to the incident and that they are following a definite line of enquiry.
In a statement, Tusla confirmed that the incident took place at one of its emergency residential units providing 24-hour care to four young people separated from their families who were seeking international protection.
“The incident involved two young people, during which a fatal injury was sustained,” a spokesperson for the child and family agency said.
“An Garda Sióchána are now conducting a full investigation , and we are co-operating fully with their enquiries”
The spokesperson said Tusla’s immediate priority is the safety and wellbeing of the other young people and staff at the unit.
“We are providing additional supports to everyone directly affected and making efforts to contact the families of the young people who were residing there,” they continued.
“In order to protect the privacy of the young people involved, and given the ongoing Garda investigation, we are not in a position to provide further detail at this time.”
Politicians have expressed regret at today’s incident, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin among those who said he was shocked and saddened at the loss of life in the care facility.
“Our thoughts go to the bereaved family and those injured during this incident,” Martin said.
The wellbeing of the young people in this facility and the staff is now paramount. It is important they are offered every possible support at this difficult time as An Garda Síochána conduct a thorough investigation.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said he has been briefed on the situation throughout the day.
“My deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of the young person who has died,” he said.
“I’m also thinking of the other residents and staff as this will have been a shocking tragedy for everyone in the facility.”
Minister for Children Norma Foley also expressed sympathies to the young person’s family.
“I am conscious that the circumstances in relation to the incident are being investigated by An Garda Siochána and I encourage full co-operation with their investigation,” Foley added.
Local Sinn Féin TD Denise Mitchell said that the people of Donaghmede are “shocked” by the “devastating news”.
“This was a deeply traumatic incident, which has stunned the whole community,” Mitchell said in a statement this afternoon.
She added that gardaí are in the early stages of their investigation into the incident and “need to be given the time, space and resources to establish the facts about how and why this happened.”
“I want to commend the gardaí and emergency services for their speedy action in bringing the situation under control, and welcome that there is now no ongoing threat to the community,” Mitchell added.
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