knife attack Wicklow man (36) stabbed to death named locally as two arrested

There were five people in the house in Ballyconnell when the fatal incident occurred

Pictured: Juris Viktorovs who was originally from Lithuania

Conor Feehan

February 11 2022 06:41 PM

The man who was stabbed to death in a house in Co Wicklow late on Thursday evening has been named locally as Juris Viktorovs who was originally from Lithuania.

The 36-year-old died after being attacked in a house in the small village of Ballyconnell, close to the border with Co Carlow.

There were five people in the house on Thursday evening when the fatal incident occurred.

The scene of the fatal stabbing at Ballyconnell Park near Tullow in Co Wicklow. Photo by Steve Humphreys

The house is at the end of a small cul de sac of eight houses called Pairc Beal Atha Conaill in the quiet rural village close to the towns of Shillelagh and Tullow.

Gardaí attended the scene of the incident at approximately 8.15pm where the victim was found dead inside the house.

He had been stabbed in the chest.

Gardai at the scene of the fatal assault at Ballycionnell Park near Tullow in Co Wicklow. Photo by Steve Humphreys

Gardai at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Ballyconnell Park near Tullow in Co Wicklow. Photo by Steve Humphreys

Emergency services attended the scene but he was pronounced dead in the house and his body remained there overnight pending a preliminary examination.

The scene was also preserved pending a forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

The scene of the fatal stabbing at Ballyconnell Park near Tullow in Co Wicklow. Photo by Steve Humphreys

It is understood that the victim had been staying at the house for only a few short months.

He had previously lived in Tullow, Co Carlow, around 10km away.

Speaking at the scene yesterday, Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit said a post mortem was due to be carried out on the victim at Naas Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster.

Mr Viktorovs’s body was removed from the scene to be transported for that post mortem just after 2pm yesterday.

A woman in her 20s and a man aged in his 30s were arrested at the scene by local gardai.

The scene of the fatal stabbing at Ballyconnell Park near Tullow in Co Wicklow. Photo by Steve Humphreys

They were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at Bray Garda Station and Baltinglass Garda Station, respectively.

Local sources said gardaí had been called to the house in recent weeks, but despite that they were shocked that anybody would be killed.

“There’s been people in and out of it over the months, and we don’t know who they all are. They sometimes ask locals on the road for lifts to Tullow if they are going that direction, but we don’t know them,” one local resident told the Irish Independent.

Locals said they were only alerted to an incident when the emergency services arrived late on Thursday.

The scene of the fatal stabbing at Ballyconnell Park near Tullow in Co Wicklow. Photo by Steve Humphreys

“We didn’t hear anything leading up to it, so it was a shock to hear someone was dead,” said one.

A motive for the attack was not immediately known, and gardai were awaiting the results of the post mortem yesterday evening before interviewing suspects and witnesses again.

Gardaí in Baltinglass are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to the incident to contact them.

“Anyone who was in the village of Ballyconnell on Thursday or any person who noticed any unusual activity there yesterday evening is asked to contact investigating Gardaí,” said a garda spokeswoman.

“Any person who was in the village of Ballyconnell on Thursday night between 7pm and 8.15pm and who may have camera footage of the area is asked to make this available. Similarly, any road user who was travelling in the area and who may have camera or dash cam footage is asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

“Any person with any information which may be relevant to the Garda investigation should contact Baltinglass Garda Station on 059 648 2610, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station,” she added.