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Weapons recovered in probe over murder of man in Bray

William Moorehouse was the father of six children
William Moorehouse was the father of six children

Gardaí in Wicklow investigating the murder of a 36-year-old man in Bray yesterday evening have recovered a number of weapons in searches of the area.

William Moorehouse, who had an address at the Half Moon Halting Site just outside the town, died in the playground at Ballywaltrim after he had been stabbed.

The incident happened just after 6pm.

Mr Moorehouse was attacked and stabbed several times, and was discovered by a person out walking who called the emergency services.

However, efforts to resuscitate him failed and he died in the playground.

Gardaí at the scene in Bray this morning

Relatives say Mr Moorehouse was the father of six children, and his partner was also pregnant with their seventh child.

Two local primary schools, the library and the community centre were all closed to facilitate crime scene examination.

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Gardaí are trying to establish a motive for the murder, and suspect it could be related to a dispute among members of the Traveller community.

Homes and locations around the crime scene have been searched, and they have recovered a number of weapons.

The Traveller mediation service - a partnership funded by the Department of Justice which works to mediate in conflicts involving travellers - has been called in to assist.

Gardaí believe Mr Moorehouse was fatally stabbed after a fight had been arranged between groups of travellers who were in dispute.

However, they are treating this as an isolated incident and not part of a feud, and have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

No arrests have yet been made.

Public representatives here have also appealed for people to remain calm to assist and allow gardaí to solve this crime.

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Sinn Fein TD John Brady has said "a dark shadow" has been cast over the town because of the incident, and that it was important support were put in place.

Local Green party councillor Erika Doyle, who went to the nearby school as a child, said she believed it was a "one-off crime, that this wasn't someone who was on the rampage".

She added that she did not think people had needed to be worried about safety in their neighbourhood.