LATEST: Suspect in 'random' stabbing attacks in Dublin not an asylum seeker, says Justice Minister

Speaking on Morning Ireland on Monday, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan confirmed that the individual responsible for the horrific stabbing attacks in Dublin on Sunday was not seeking international protection or had been granted international protection following rumours circulating online. 

Three men, two aged in their 20s and one in his 40s, were stabbed by a man in Stoneybatter at around 3pm on Sunday. Two of the men attacked have sustained significant but non-life threatening injuries, while the third man suffered less significant, albeit serious, non-life threatening injuries.

Minister O'Callaghan has said that gardaí have so far indicated that these were "random attacks" with one man being slashed on the neck while at the front door of his house and another cycling at the time he was slashed by the attacker. 

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The Minister said: "What appeared to happen is the individual went along the streets - the three locations were Oxmantown Road, Carnew Street and Niall Street and the three men who were attacked were just, unfortunately, in a position where the person was passing by at the time and it was horrific for them."

As rumours have been circulating online claiming the attacker was an asylum seeker, Minister O'Callaghan stated that the man in his 20s, who was arrested at the scene, was not seeking or had been granted international protection. He said that it is understood that the man is homeless and originally from South America. 

The Justice Minister acknowledged that there has been "so much inaccurate information" online regarding the attack. He also added that the man responsible "hadn't really been brought to the attention of the gardaí before, although there was some minor interaction I think in 2023."

Also appearing on the show, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said that "far-right agitators" have used the attack to spread misinformation. 

The Dublin Central TD said that although the attack was random, there had been "tension bubbling in the area" concerning safety. Gannon said that residents have been highlighting the ongoing issue with anti-social behaviour in the area for years. Although commending the "exceptional" response of gardaí on Sunday, he said more should be present on the streets in the city centre to deter crime. 

Gannon said: "These are highly densely populated areas. They have huge levels of complex needs. What does an actual residential policing strategy look like for the city centre communities? We've been crying out for this, in Dublin 1, Dublin 7, crossing Dublin 2."