Gardai make fourth arrest in probe surrounding alleged stab murder of asylum seeker in Dublin

Gardaí have arrested a fourth man in connection with the alleged stab murder of an asylum seeker on Dublin’s South Anne Street.

The man, who is in his 20s, was arrested by Gardaí on Tuesday morning, and he is currently in custody in the Dublin area.

He is the fourth person to be arrested in connection with an alleged melee incident that spilled out on Duke Lane and South Anne Street in the early hours of the morning of Saturday February 15, which saw Nigerian native Quham Babatunde, 36, killed.

Last week, Ryan Ndede, 23, of Boroimhe Birches, Swords, Co Dublin, appeared before a court in Belfast charged with the murder of Mr Babatunde.

Detective Constable Pauline Boyce of the PSNI gave evidence that she could connect the accused to the charges, while prosecution Counsel David McNeill told the court that what he described as a "group melee" occurred, during which Mr Babatunde was stabbed four times - including through the heart.

Mr McNeill told the court that Gardaí used CCTV to trace the accused's movements to a rented apartment in Dublin 8, where a knife was recovered. The knife is still undergoing forensic examinations, the court heard. The court was also told that Mr Ndede was picked up again on CCTV arriving by bus to Belfast on Sunday afternoon, where he later boarded a ferry to Birkenhead, Liverpool.

Mr McNeill said the ferry was turned around and the accused was arrested in Belfast. After objections from counsel representing the accused, District Judge Alan White said that he did hold jurisdiction in the case. There was no application for bail and Mr Ndede was remanded in custody to appear before the same court again on 21 March.

Meanwhile in Dublin, Jeffrey Bangu, 21, of Cardy Rock Crescent in Balbriggan, Co Dublin appeared before Dublin District Court charged with Section 3 assault causing harm to Mr Babatunde at Duke Lane Dublin 2 on February 15.

He is further accused of section 3 assault causing harm to another man at South Anne Street in Dublin on the same date. He is also accused of violent disorder in that in the course of a fight he allegedly produced a knife. He is further charged with violent disorder on South Anne Street against persons unknown - in that he’s accused of threatening to use unlawful violence.

Rory Carr, 21, of Ard na Greine, Seapoint Lane, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, also appeared before Dublin District Court - charged with assault causing harm to Mr Babatunde and Adetola Adetuilehim at Anne Street South. Both men have been remanded into custody for future court hearings.

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