Today marks the 30th anniversary of John Fox's death. Following the news of the death of Paddy Lyons in Waterford earlier this week, John’s brother, Declan Fox, gave Joe Duffy a call. His stark message? Things haven't changed a whole lot in Ireland in these last thirty years.
Declan's brother John died on this day thirty years ago, stabbed in the back while visiting Sligo from his home in North Tipperary. He was simply there to see some friends.
'They were attacked because of their unusual accents. In those days people didn't travel that much to different counties. They were attacked unprovoked, and he was stabbed in the back'.
The perpetrator was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for manslaughter. Declan tells Joe that Richard Kelly, the man who killed John, was carrying a hunting knife on a Saturday night.
Declan spoke to Liveline about how the death of a family member can have such a huge effect on those that are left behind.
'Our family, we were a lovely, just ordinary, how would you say, a 1987 family'.
They say time's a healer, but in the case of the Fox family, you'd wonder how time is supposed to heal a tragedy such as this. Declan explained how this unprovoked attack leading to death left them as a 'three day wonder'. 'We're three day wonders, we die, we wake and we're buried. The family live with the rest'.
His message to listeners of the Liveline was that one death can make such a difference to life. It's not just that one man is dead, he told Joe. It's that his brother could have been a dad; Declan could have been a best man at a wedding. All of these beautiful moments have been stolen from the Fox family. His parting message to any young person going out was never to bring a knife. The consequences are lifelong.
To listen back to the item and the rest of Liveline, click here.