Man killed and reveller injured in Patrick's day nightclub stab horror

A third man, aged 19, was arrested soon afterwards and detained for questioning at Shannon Garda Station.

The incident happened at the Shannon Knights nightclub in Shannon at about 2am yesterday.

Two men, believed to be from the Dooradoyle area of Limerick, were stabbed during the incident. One was named locally as Jamie Higgins (23), who died later in hospital.

The second man, aged 22, is recovering in hospital with in- juries described as not life- threatening. The 19-year-old man was arrested soon afterwards and taken to Shannon Garda Station where he was being detained last night.

Emergency services were quickly alerted, including Shannon fire brigade, which was asked to attend and assist gardai and National Ambulance Service paramedics.

On arrival, emergency crews found two men inside the premises had suffered stab wounds.

A garda who arrived at the scene quickly carried out CPR on the more seriously injured man. Both casualties were treated at the scene by paramedics and firefighters before they were rushed to University Hospital Limerick, where Mr Higgins was pronounced dead a short time later.

The scene was preserved overnight and remained sealed off pending completion of a forensic examination, which was carried out early yesterday.

Gardai in Shannon are investigating the circumstances of the incident and have appealed for witnesses.

Row

"We are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information, and in particular we would like to speak to anyone who was in the Shannon Knights nightclub on the night of the 17th or 18th," said a garda spokesman.

A post-mortem examination was due to take place on Mr Higgins' body yesterday.

It is understood that he and his friend had travelled to Shannon from Limerick for a night out on St Patrick's Day.

A row broke out involving another man, also understood to be from Limerick, towards the end of the night.

While the incident took place inside the club, several areas outside the premises were also sealed off.

The areas are believed to be the route by which the suspect left the scene before being arrested later. A weapon was recovered from the location.

Members of the Dublin- based Garda Technical Bureau were due at the scene yes- terday. The senior officer leading the investigation said yesterday that CCTV footage from the club could be vital in the investigation.

"We are hoping that it will be of benefit to us, but until we actually see it and analyse it we won't know," said Supt John Galvin.

He added that gardai will also be viewing CCTV footage from Shannon town centre.

He said gardai believe that Mr Higgins and the man in custody were acquainted.

As part of the investigation, gardai in Shannon are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information, and in particular would like to speak to anyone who was in Shannon Knights to contact them.