"Stab City"

chicorytip

I have been trying to recollect the particular case which led to Limerick being tagged with this moniker. I can't find any information online.

I think it occurred in the mid eighties. Two young Saudis or Syrians, who were trainee pilots in Shannon, were stabbed in an unprovoked attack somewhere in town. One later died. A screwdriver was the weapon used, apparently.

Does anyone remember this in more detail and was anybody convicted of the crime ?

geotrig

Saw your thread on reddit and here and never knew of this story,interesting stuff and never equated the moniker to any one incident and always believed it was media bias of sorts.

cml387

On Christmas eve 1982 a trainee Libyan airline pilot was stabbed in the head at a taxi rank in Thomas Street.

A man from Moyross was convicted of the stabbing.

StevenToast

Scum

Red Silurian

I think it's unlikely to be one incident that gave us that name, a name which thankfully is slowly being eroded away.

RTE in their never ending attack on our city still liberally use the word "murder" in headlines relating to Limerick while a similar story in Dublin gets the very carefully curated words "fatal shooting/stabbing" in the same headline

o1s1n

It's mentioned on the 'Limerick Feud' wiki entry:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick_feud

Throughout the latter part of the twentieth century, Limerick grappled with a crime problem, with numerous high-profile crime incidents occurring in city. In this period the city gained notoriety being dubbed "Stab City" by media outlets, while nationally the city gained a popular image and reputation for criminality, violent disorder, and toughness. While there are a number of various and complex reasons for feuding and crime in the city, part of the problems arise from the deprivation experienced in some of the suburban local authority housing estates built by Limerick Corporation from the mid-to late 20th century. By end of the 20th century, endemic unemployment and deprivation in these estates were amongst the highest in Ireland, fostering major antisocial behaviour in the estates as well as high levels of organized crime amongst rival gangs within the city in order to control the city's drug trade.

chicorytip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122890874#Comment_122890874

Five years for manslaughter. Paul Duffy was his name. He died last year.

Moonbeam

https://www.irishpost.com/news/forbes-magazine-sparks-fury-in-ireland-with-article-describing-limerick-as-stab-city-and-murder-capital-209029 had missed this article previously.

Paddico

Ive a feeling it may have been Dermot Morgan who first coined the phrase back in the 80s.

During one of his stand ups.

adaminho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122946393#Comment_122946393

it was Gerry Stembridge who wrote for Scrap Saturday. Worse he's from Rathbane!

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122946393#Comment_122946393

Support for that theory here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAUGpozCMTc

Insect Overlord

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122946561#Comment_122946561

It is often attributed to him, but I think I've heard him say it was already in popular use and he and Dermot Morgan just get the blame for being the first to use it in the media.