The mother of a man stabbed to death in a frenzied knife attack during a row at a pal’s house is "in shock".
Stephen Kavanagh, 37, whose nickname was ‘Apples’, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The Arklow, Co Wicklow man was pronounced dead on arrival at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin.
His mother Nora was “too shocked” to talk last night.
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A relative at the home place in South Green, Arklow, said: “His mum Nora is not up to talking right now.
“She is in too much shock.”
A family friend added: “It’s terrible. Nora is in shock.
“He had only turned 37 in April, a few days ago really.
“I feel awful for her and the family.”
A 42-year-old man, who knew the victim, handed himself into Arklow Garda Station, where cops continued to quiz him last night.
The horror unfolded shortly after midnight in a detached house at The Crescent, in the quiet Meadowvale housing estate.
A retired couple owns the property, but were away at the time.
Their adult son invited some friends over on Sunday evening.
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It’s understood that a row broke out between out-of-work fisherman Kavanagh and another man and the victim was stabbed.
Neighbours woke up to a crime scene outside their window, but insisted they heard nothing during the night.
One woman said: “There was no party anyway, or I would have heard something.”
Residents are mainly young families and a playground is directly in front of the house.
Bloody handprints were visible on a lamppost outside the driveway.
A forensic team specialising in blood spatter will arrive this morning to examine the scene.
The couple who own the house returned yesterday afternoon and collected a small terrier dog in a cage.
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Assistant Garda Commissioner Fintan Fanning was also at the scene yesterday morning to review the case.
A single uniformed garda stood watch last night as the scene was preserved for a full forensic exam this morning.
Arklow priest, Fr Michael Murtagh, said: “A young life has been taken away and a young man who should be at the most productive years of his life is gone.
“This is a huge tragedy for the local community to wake up to on a Bank Holiday Monday.
“My sympathies go out to the family and friends at the time of this tragedy.”
Kavanagh was an unemployed fisherman who had previously worked on trawlers along the south east coast.
A garda spokesman said last night: “Investigating Gardaí have since arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the incident.
“He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Arklow Garda Station.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Arklow Garda Station 0402-26320 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
“The investigation is ongoing.”
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