Tragic Gerard Quinn who was fatally wounded when he was stabbed in a house at Currynerin in Derry on Saturday night. (North wEst Newspix)
A RRAVE neighbour has told how he tried his best to save the life of much loved stab victim Gerard Quinn in Derry at the weekend.
Mr Quinn, 24, was brutally assaulted at Milldale Crescent in Currynierin on Saturday night while attending a house party.
He was rushed by ambulance to the nearby Altnagelvin hospital but later died of his injuries.
Paramedics said he had been stabbed in the neck with a bottle which may have caused the fatal injury to an artery.
A post mortem examination is to be held to determine the exact cause of the injury which led to his tragic but brutal death.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team were today granted an extra 24 hours to question a 16-year-old boy in connection with the murder.
He was arrested on Saturday night is currently being quizzed at Strand Road PSNI station.
Neighbour Paul Sharkey told today how he ran out with towels as Mr Quinn was slumped up by a wall.
“I was holding his neck, keeping pressure on. I still had a pulse,” he said.
Forensic officers entering the scene of the fatal stabbing in Derry. (North West Newspix)
“We rolled him over, lost the pulse straight away and I started CPR.
“I managed to get a small pulse back again and then the ambulance turned up and took over from there.
“He went up to the hospital with a pulse and he was fighting for his life…. I’m really glad that he did not die on the street.”
Mr Sharkey said that when he arrived at the scene, there were crowds of people screaming.
“I haven’t slept, every time I close my eyes I can just see the young fella. This is something I’m never going to get over,” he said.
Mr Quinn has been described by those who knew him as “fun loving”.
Jimmy McAlister is the manager of Nierin football club, for whom Gerard played.
“He was fun loving, he played football with a smile on his face you know? He was one of the characters in the changing room that everybody liked.
“It’s devastating, heartbreaking, he’s got a young kid of his own and it’s just a complete shock to everybody.
“Everybody round here knows everybody else so the whole estate will be feeling it today and for a long time to come,” Mr McAlister said.
Fr Michael Canny from Waterside parish visited the Quinn family on Sunday.
“It’s another tragedy in the city. I was horrified to hear of the murder and yesterday afternoon I went to visit the family and I have to say it’s a scene of complete and total devastation,” he said.
“The parents and the extended family are really struggling to come to terms with the enormity of actually what has happened.
“That somebody who was young, someone who was very special and important to them, their life has been snuffed out in such a terrible manner,” he said.
Dermot Chambers knew Gerard from a young age through Ardmore Gaelic club.
“I would have trained him from he was five or six years of age. Any time you saw him he had a ball with him, he was one of those types of fellas you know, always wanting to be involved in sport,” he said.
“It’s a terrible loss and a very sad day for the community of Ardmore and our prayers are with the family.
“There was that much police activity we knew that there was something serious wrong and then we heard that news, devastating.”
PSNI forensic officers examine the scene of the fatal stabbing in Derry where q young man lost his life. (North West Newspix)