Romantic rivalry linked to Bray tragedy

A horrific murder/suicide that left two people dead and two others seriously injured may have been sparked by jealousy over a woman, it emerged tonight.

A horrific murder/suicide that left two people dead and two others seriously injured may have been sparked by jealousy over a woman, it emerged tonight.

Sebastian Creane was knifed to death at his Co Wicklow house by friend Shane Clancy in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Detectives are probing the theory that Mr Creane was attacked because he was romantically involved with Mr Clancy’s ex-girlfriend Jennifer Hannigan.

Mr Clancy also stabbed Ms Hannigan and Mr Creane’s brother during the frenzied attack before turning the knife on himself in the garden of the house in Bray.

Detectives have yet to question the survivors, both of whom are being treated in hospital.

But it is understood Mr Clancy had been repeatedly contacting Ms Hannigan since they split.

Mr Creane, a student at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, was a former pupil at the fee-paying St Gerard’s school in Bray which paid a glowing tribute.

In a statement headmaster Tom Geraghty offered his sympathies to the family.

“At this time we at St Gerard’s School and the whole school community both past and present wish to commiserate with the family and friends of Sebastian Creane on their tragic and untimely loss,” the statement read.

“The staff of the school remember Sebastian as a hardworking, conscientious and diligent pupil who was consistently popular with both pupils and teachers of the class of 2005.

“Sebastian was always a perfect gentleman who cheerfully and willingly gave of his best in all school activities.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sebastian at this time.”

The two men, both aged 22, had been on a night out in Dublin and returned to the house in Cuala Grove, a quiet middle class area, where the row broke out at around 5am.

It is believed Mr Clancy grabbed a kitchen knife and attacked Mr Creane, stabbing him several times, before turning it on Ms Hannigan.

Mr Creane’s 28-year-old brother Dylan, who was in the house heard the disturbance and was also stabbed when he intervened.

The alarm was raised after a seriously injured Ms Hannigan managed to crawl into the neighbour’s garden.

When gardaí arrived they initially believed the attacker fled on foot and after two hours searching the area officers discovered Mr Clancy’s bloodied body in the back garden.

Drugs were not a factor and detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings.

The Creanes’ parents were away on holiday when the tragedy occurred but returned to Ireland yesterday.

Mr Creane was a fourth-year visual communications student, while Mr Clancy was in the final year of a four-year degree in Trinity College and lived in Dalkey with his brother.

It is believed the pair worked together in The Club, a popular bar in Dalkey, south Co Dublin. When contacted management declined to comment.

Independent Bray TD Joe Behan said the town was shocked by the deaths.

“This is an immense tragedy for a number of families,” he said.

“Obviously the hearts of everybody in the community go out to all concerned.

“I’m sure the people who live in the immediate vicinity must be in a state of shock.”

The stabbing is the third knife attack in around a week, following the assault on Garda Daryl Mullen in Westport and the killing of Frankie Heneghan in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo.

Mr Heneghan, 24, from Ballyheane, near Castlebar, was found in a narrow alleyway in the small town in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Gardaí believe several people were involved in the savage killing.

Garda Mullen was hospitalised after being attacked while on the beat in the seaside town of Westport the previous weekend.

A 16-year-old youth has been charged over the attack.

The assaults provoked Fine Gael to call for public meetings to be held to raise awareness among young men about the dangers of knife crime.

“Public meetings aimed at parents and teachers are important and necessary for communities who are particularly affected by knife crime,” justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said.

“The gardaí alone cannot get the message across to young men carrying knives.

“We know that one-third of knife crime offenders are young men under 20 and those who have daily contact with this peer group must be aware of what to look out for and how to respond. In this context, parents and teachers are a key audience.”

But gardaí hit back claiming it was running a public information campaign targeted at youths through social networking websites like Bebo and Twitter.

A spokesman said it believes more than 5,000 young people could be made aware of the dangers of knife crime through the campaign.

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