The man – who is in his 40s – was arrested in Cork early on Wednesday morning.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Cork city.

The man can be held for questioning for up to 24 hours.

Gardaí launched a murder investigation after a father-of-one was fatally stabbed in Cork city centre on Monday evening after he had gone to buy food for his family for a pre-St Patrick’s Day meal.

The 31-year old Ukrainian national died despite defying his injuries and staggering almost 100 metres back towards his city centre apartment complex in a bid to get help.

Gardaí launched a murder investigation on the basis of the findings of a post mortem examination on the deceased.

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.

Gardaí said the incident occurred on Lower John Street-Knapps Square-Devonshire Street in Cork city after 7pm on Monday evening.

Detectives now believe that the fatal stabbing was an unprovoked and random street attack.

“Gardaí 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 post mortem examination was conducted by Dr Sally Anne Collis.

Gardaí are not releasing the findings of the post mortem examination for operational reasons but the incident is now being treated as murder.

“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.”

“Gardaí 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 gardaí.”

“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 towards 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).

Gardaí 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.

Gardaí 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.

Detecives believe that CCTV security camera footage will play a crucial role in their investigation.

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.