Money row blamed as teen dies in bottle attack

A DISPUTE over money may have been behind the fatal stabbing of a19-year-old youth in a pub on a quiet offshore island.

Shocked customers at Early's Bar on Arranmore Island looked on indisbelief as labourer Paul Francis Boyle was stabbed in the neckwith a broken bottle by a man who had just entered the premises inthe early hours of Saturday.

The tragedy, believed to be the first violent death on the islandoff the Donegal coast, has numbed the close-knit community.

Despite frantic efforts to save his life, the victim waspronounced dead in Letterkenny General Hospital at 10.30am,surrounded by his devastated family.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on the island a short time afterthe assault and taken to Glenties garda station on the mainland forquestioning. He was later admitted to Letterkenny General Hospital,where he remained under garda watch yesterday.

The victim is survived by his grief-stricken parents, Frank andRose, two brothers and two sisters.

His older brother Frankie posted a poignant message on Paul'spage on the Bebo social networking internet site.

"R.I.P little bro. can't believe you're gone. Thanks for all thegood times. Will never forget them.

"Keep a stool and a bottle of bud up there for me. I'll be up toya someday. Love you so, so much. My life will never be the sameagain without you in it... you will always be in my heart."

Chance

Older sister, Tara (21) posted: "I never really got a chance totell u how much I love you. U were way too young to die."

One line of inquiry being investigated by gardai is that thetragic youth was in a long-running dispute with his attacker.

According to garda sources, the two men had worked together inLondon for a short period in the past and the victim believed he wasowed money from that time.

Eyewitnesses claim a man entered the bar and singled out theyouth before attacking him with a broken bottle. The youth turnedhis head to try to avoid being struck but the glass made contactwith his neck.

Two off-duty Garda Siochana, who were in the vicinity, rushed tothe assistance of the injured teenager.

CAPTION: Arranmore island, off the Donegal coast, scene of afatal stabbingVictim: Paul Francis Boyle