Editorial: How many more must die by knife?
The circumstances which surround the stabbing to death of a young ex-soldier in Dublin at the weekend are indeed shocking.
Warren O'Connor (24) was a Good Samaritan who was knifed after apparently going to help a friend threatened by noisy partygoers.
His murder was one of five over 10 days in Dublin, three of them gangland killings, a savage and bloody start to the new year.
Complaining about noise or loud music would normally lead to an argument at the most or calling the gardai to sort it out.
The horrific ending to a row which led to the young footballer dying on the side of a road from a stab wound is almost unbelievable.
However, his killing was just one of two involving knives over the weekend. Another young man died in Lattin, Co Tipperary.
It's time to take a long, hard look at the "knife culture" which prompts someone so easily to use a deadly weapon in anger.
