Gardaí investigating the murder of a man in Co Cork last week now believe a suspect they are keen to speak with about the killing has fled the country.
Conor Quinn, 24, was fatally stabbed in Mallow town centre last Thursday evening.
Since then, gardaí have been searching for a 21-year-old local man. They appealed to him to contact them and present himself to gardaí.
That appeal was re-issued yesterday.
However, it is now understood that he has fled the country with assistance, even though airports and ports were on alert.
A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardaí are liaising through Interpol with British police in an effort to locate him.
It is understood investigating gardaí also have secured CCTV footage of the fatal assault, which shows Mr Quinn pulling up in a car on Bridge Street.
Following a brief conversation with the suspect, he is fatally stabbed and the suspect flees on foot.
Mr Quinn flagged down an ambulance and was rushed to Cork University Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
A post-mortem examination by the Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster found that he had died from a single stab wound to the stomach.
Mr Quinn was a native of Loughrea in Co Galway. He grew up and went to school in Tipperary Town.
His remains will lie in repose at Whelan's Funeral Home tomorrow evening before being removed to St Michael's Church for requiem mass at 10.30am on Thursday.
