Knife-attack victim left fighting for life

Detectives have launched a major investigation after the attack in Walkinstown.

The 27-year-ld victim, from Clondalkin, was discovered lying unconscious on the roadside.

The emergency services were alerted at 9pm on Saturday after a member of the public found the victim on Bunting Road after suffering five stab wounds to the torso.

He was rushed to St James's Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

He remained in a critical condition, battling for life through Sunday and Monday, but his condition took a turn for the better yesterday and his condition has been upgraded to stable.

Gardai believe he may have been set upon by at least three men and have appealed for information from the public about the attack.

The victim has yet to be interviewed and detectives will wait for his condition to improve before questioning him.

Gardai are continuing to examine the incident to determine a motive for the attack.

Anyone with an information on the incident is asked to contact Crumlin Garda Station on (01) 6666200 or the Garda Confidential Lone on 1800 666 111.

Surge

The scene of the knife attack was cordoned off by gardai and a forensic examination was carried out by officers from the Garda Technical Bureau.

No arrests have been made by gardai so far and investigations are continuing.

There has been a surge in knife crime across the country.

There have been 15 fatal stabbings so far this year, with most of the victims and perpetrators being men in their 20s.

In an average year, gardai deal with around 1,200 incidents involving knives, solving the vast majority of them. Indeed, when it comes to solving fatal stabbings, they have an almost 100pc success rate.

A United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) report on homicides and knife crime found Ireland has the highest rate of killings of young men overall in western Europe.

hnews@herald.ie