LAST UPDATE | 10 Feb 2025

GARDAÍ CONTINUE TO investigate a stabbing incident in the Stoneybatter area on the north side of Dublin yesterday afternoon, which Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has described as “an awful, random attack”.

A man in his 20s has been arrested and is detained at a Garda station in the North City under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Three men, whose ages range from mid-20s to mid-40s, were assaulted during the incident and taken to hospital for treatment, gardaí said.

Two of them are being treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries, while one male was admitted with less serious injuries.

A number of scenes were preserved for technical examination in the Stoneybatter area, but these have been conducted.

A Garda spokesperson said the incident was responded to by significant Garda resources including unarmed uniformed members, Detective Gardaí and supported by Armed Support Units.

The arrested male was initially intercepted and detained close to the scene of the incident by an unarmed uniformed member of An Garda Síochána.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.

It is believed that the suspect acted alone and that gardaí are increasing their visibility in the area to reassure the community.

Gardaí have also dismissed rumours circulating on social media that the suspect is or has been an asylum seeker. 

Garda and ambulance services at the scene in Stoneybatter DAMIEN STORAN DAMIEN STORAN

“My heart is absolutely broken with it,” one resident, who was near the scene at the time, told The Journal. 

The Justice Minister said it was “a shocking experience for the people of Stoneybatter”.

“It was horrific for the three men who were brutally attacked,” O’Callaghan said, adding that he wished the victims a speedy recovery. 

Local Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam said residents were told to lock their doors and stay inside.

McAdam said gardaí reacted very quickly and “swarmed the place”.

Garda and ambulance services at the scene in Stoneybatter DAMIEN STORAN DAMIEN STORAN

Photographs taken at the scene showed a large Garda presence as well as emergency medical responders.

McAdam said community gardaí were contacting local residents to assure them they would maintain a presence in the area.

He described the neighbourhood as “active” and “closely knit”.

“There’s a level of shock, a level of concern – but the overriding sense here in Stonybatter is one of hope that those who have been impacted and injured will make a swift recovery,” he said.

He added: “There’s a sense of ‘how could something like this happen in our neighbourhood?’”

Terrible news from Stoneybatter this afternoon. My thoughts are with those injured and their families. The community is in a state of shock.

The Gardaí and emergency services are to be commended for their response.

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) February 9, 2025

Local TD, Gary Gannon told The Journal residents have been raising concerns in recent months about safety in the area.

“People feel that there is a real risk to their safety here in recent times and have been highlighting it with ourselves, the local authorities and Gardaí.

“We have held community meetings and have called for greater resourcing of Gardaí in this particular area. It’s important that those concerns are now prioritised for the people of Stoneybatter”, Gannon said.

Heartbreaking news from Stoneybatter in the last few hours. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the entire community affected by this.

A sincere thank you to our emergency services and the Gardaí for such a quick response this afternoon.

— Gary Gannon TD (@GaryGannonTD) February 9, 2025

Sinn Féin leader and local TD Mary Lou McDonald said the community was in “a state of shock” and commended gardaí and emergency services for their response. 

Gardaí have asked that anyone who was in the Stoneybatter area yesterday afternoon between 2.30pm and 3.30pm and may have any video footage linked to the incident, to make that footage available.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridewell Garda Station on (01) 6668200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

With reporting from Press Association