Cops probe stabbing link to robbery attempt
Man, 35, held by gardai after 20-year-old suffers fatal injuries outside property
GARDAI are probing if a fatal stabbing is linked to an attempted robbery of a van in an estate in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The man who died in the incident in the Tallaght area of South Dublin has been named locally as Jordan Pakenham.
The 20-year-old sustained serious injuries outside a house in Drumcairn Estate and was rushed to Tallaght University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
A 35-year-old man was arrested and is being detained at a Garda station in Dublin, where he can be questioned for up to 24 hours under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Gardai believe the stabbing was linked to an attempt to break into a van in the estate.
Mr Pakenham was the eldest of four children in a family from the Rossfield area of Tallaght, around a kilometre from the scene of the stabbing.
His friends and family have been posting tributes to the young man on social media.
One person wrote: “God help him, he was a lovely kid.”
Another added: “I’ve no words you sweet, sweet kind-hearted gentle soul we all knew and loved you as! Your gonna be missed by so many man, including meself. Rest easy Paco, gone way too soon G, thinking of all your family.” Several people referred to Mr Pakenham’s childhood pal, Kyle Finnegan Hooper, who died in 2018 after suffering an asthma attack aged 12.
In February 2019, Mr Pakenham had posted a photo of himself with Kyle, along with the message: “Happy heavenly birthday bro. Your always on my mind buddy love ye bro until we meet again.”
One mourner wrote yesterday: “Rest in peace [ Jordan], such sad news to wake up to this morning. May God give you the best bed in Heaven. Your up there with Kyle now. Please give your family the strength to get trew this.”
Another person who sympathised with the Pakenham family said: “It’s disgusting... the pain I’m feeling, I can’t imagine what they’re going through.
“He had the nicest character, it stood out from a mile away. Heartbreaking.”
One local in Tallaght said: “He was a nice kid.
“So young, it’s an absolute tragedy and totally senseless. He had a lot of family in the local area, they’re good people.
“This will have come as such a shock to them, God help them.”
Gardai have issued an appeal for anyone who witnessed the incident that occurred between 3am and 4am to come forward and make contact with investigators.