Death threat forces family of stab victim to move home
THE family of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death five months ago have confirmed they moved home after receiving a death threat.
Toyosi Shittabey, a third-year student at Hartstown Community School in west Dublin, was on his way back from the National Aquatic Centre with friends on April 2 when he was stabbed to death.
His father, Segun, said they have received a large number of letters since their son's death, with one threatening them.
"It was threatening and racist and the gardai are investigating," he told the Irish Independent.
"There were a number of reasons why we moved but the threat was one of them.
"Things are very difficult now, things can never be OK because of Toyosi," he said. Mr Shittabey added that they had received a huge amount of support from the local community and they have remained in west Dublin.
Last week two brothers who had been charged in connection with Toyosi's killing had charges against them increased to murder.
Michael Barry (24) replied "absolute rubbish" after he was charged by gardai. His older brother, Paul (39), made no reply to the charge.
Paul Barry, of Pearse Street, Dublin, was previously charged with the manslaughter of Toyosi following an altercation in Tyrrelstown.
His brother Michael, with an address at Pigeonhouse Road in Ringsend, was charged with producing a hockey stick during the course of a dispute.
Both have been remanded to appear before Blanchardstown court tomorrow.
Fine Gael councillor Kieron Dennison said that the mixed-race community in Tyrellstown was shocked by the killing.
Toyosi, a talented footballer, had played for Shelbourne's Under-15s.
He was one of six children from a family who had moved from Nigeria 11 years ago.
At the local school he attended there was a massive outpouring of grief among staff and pupils following his violent death.
- Edel Kennedy
Irish Independent
