Single knife wound killed Amy's brother
ANDREW PHELAN – 17 AUGUST 2013 07:00 AM
DEAN Fitzpatrick died after he was stabbed in the abdomen at an apartment in north Dublin, the coroner's court has been told.
The brother of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick was fatally injured in the incident last May.
Dean's father Christopher attended the opening of the inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court today.
Neither his mother Audrey nor her partner, Dave Mahon, were present.
The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell adjourned the inquest to January after hearing Garda investigations into Mr Fitzpatrick's death were ongoing.He said he was taking preliminary evidence.
Inspector Donal Waters from Coolock Garda Station said he was applying for an adjournment because investigations were ongoing.
WOUND
Mr Fitzpatrick (23), of St John's Court, Artane, was fatally stabbed at an apartment at Burnell Square apartments, at Northern Cross, on the Malahide Road on the night of May 25.
The father-of-one was rushed to Beaumont Hospital but pronounced dead soon after. In a deposition read out to the court, Christopher Fitzpatrick said he formally identified his son's body to Inspector Luke Lacey at the hospital on
Dr Farrell said he was aware of some of the circumstances of the case but could not comment further at the moment.
"That is fair enough," Mr Fitzpatrick replied. His sister was also present in
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis performed the autopsy and in his report, he stated that the cause of death was a stab wound to the abdomen. Dr Farrell said the death certificate was now available if required. He adjourned the inquest to January 27.
Dave Mahon (42), the partner of Dean's mother Audrey Fitzpatrick, was arrested following the death but released without charge.
Mr Mahon has admitted to gardai that he stabbed Dean, but insists it was in
Gardai are preparing a file for the Director of Public prosecutions.
A 12-inch carving knife was produced during the row and Mr Mahon is believed to have told officers he stabbed Dean as he feared for his life.
Speaking after being released from Garda custody, Mr Mahon said: "It was a complete accident."
The Fitzpatrick family is well known, having run a campaign for five years in an effort to progress the search for Amy. Amy and Dean went to live in Spain in 2004 and were living there with their mother and her partner, Dave Mahon, when Amy went missing.
She was last seen walking home from a friend's house near Mijas on the Costa del Sol at about 10pm on New Year's Day 2008.
hnews@herald.ie