The 31-year old Ukrainian national died despite defying his injuries and staggering almost 100 metres back to his city centre apartment complex in a bid to get help.
Gardaà are expected to launch a murder investigation once a post mortem examination on the deceased is concluded.
The 31 year old died after being attacked minutes after he left his city centre apartment to purchase food for a family meal.
A father-of-one, he lived with his partner in an apartment complex at Camden Court off Carroll’s Quay – just metres from Cork city centre.
A native of Ukraine, he has been living in Ireland for most of his adult life.
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News in 90 seconds – March 17
Gardaà said the incident occurred in the Lower John Street-Knapps Square-Devonshire Street area in Cork city after 7pm on Monday evening.
Detectives are trying to determine if the incident was a robbery gone wrong or if the Ukrainian man was deliberately targeted.
“Gardaà and emergency services responded to a reported assault which occurred at approximately 7.50pm,” a garda spokesperson said.
“A man, in his 30s, was subsequently declared deceased at a domestic residence on Carroll’s Quay.
“His remains have been removed to Cork University Hospital (CUH). The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.”
The nature of the garda investigation will be determined by the results of the post mortem examination conducted by Dr Sally Anne Collis.
However, it is expected that a murder probe will be launched.
“A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Watercourse Road Garda Station.”
“A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to support the family of the deceased.”
“Gardaà are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward, particularly taxi drivers and motorists in the area at the time.”
“Anyone who was in Devonshire Street, Knapps Square and Lower John Street areas of Cork city on Monday (March 16) 2026 between 7.30pm and 9pm and who may have camera footage (including home security and dash-cam) is asked to provide this footage to investigating gardaÃ.”
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on (021) 4558510, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666111, or any garda station. “
Initial indications are that the man was stabbed shortly after he headed out to collect food for his family from a premises in the Devonshire Street-Lower John Street area.
It is unclear if he was attacked by a lone assailant or if more than one person was involved in the attack.
The man – despite his injuries – managed to stagger back to his Camden Court apartment for help.
He was bleeding heavily and collapsed immediately after arrival.
Shocked neighbours immediately raised the alarm.
Paramedics were at the scene within minutes and desperately tried to stabilise the man’s condition.
Tragically, they were unable to do so and the young man died a short time later from his injuries.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.
The incident occurred just a short distance from the Mercy University Hospital (MUH).
Gardaà attended the property and sealed off the area where the man collapsed.
Door-to-door inquiries will be made throughout the complex while CCTV security camera footage is also expected to play a critical role in the investigation.
Officers are now harvesting footage from residential and business premises in the immediate area to determine the precise circumstances of the attack and the last movements of the deceased.
Gardaà also hope to determine any interactions the man may have had with others in the minutes before he was attacked.
The area where the attack is believed to have occurred is heavily covered by CCTV security cameras.
Garda Technical Bureau officers are conducting a full forensic examination of the area.
No weapon is believed to have been recovered as yet.
Uniformed officers are being supported by personnel from the Serious Crime Unit in Cork.
Both Cork Coroner and Office of the State Pathologist were informed of the tragedy.
The fatal attack was the second stabbing in Cork city in the space of just 48 hours.
A teenager suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries after being stabbed at an 18th birthday party being staged last weekend at a Cork sports complex.
A second teenager was arrested for questioning in relation to the incident.
The two stabbings are not connected.