‘Several suspects’ hunt in Qayyum murder probe as knife recovered & new details reveal club promoter had no role in row

A KNIFE thought to have been used in Qayyum Balogun’s murder has been recovered by cops — as his devastated family insist: “We need justice.”

The 21-year-old was knifed in Dublin city centre in the early hours of Monday, with a major Garda investigation continuing yesterday.

Computer science student ­Qayyum was stabbed in the chest, torso and arm on Clarendon Street, close to Grafton Street, at around 3am.

He was rushed to St James’s ­Hospital, where he later died.

We have learned that a knife has been recovered by gardai.

It has been sent for testing by Forensic Science Ireland.

But detectives have not ruled out the possibility that more than one weapon was used in the horror attack.

Sources said investigators are hunting for “several suspects”, with searches carried out in the capital yesterday.

One is a violent individual with several assault convictions who has previously served prison time.

Gardai have established that Qayyum had no role in a row on the night, nor any criminal history.

He was a diligent student who grew up in Dundalk, Co Louth and was due to graduate from Maynooth University next year.

Heartbroken mum Teslimot Balogun yesterday told how her boy was already dead by the time she got to St James’ Hospital at around 5am on Monday.

She said: “He was a very quiet guy, he never caused trouble.

“He was a friendly person, quiet and easy-going, goes his own way and does his own thing like his dad. He was his dad’s best friend.”

Stepmother Loveth Patrick insisted the family need justice.

Describing Qayyum as “the sweetest soul you could ever meet”, she added: “He was always smiling. He doesn’t look for trouble. He is not in a gang.”

Speaking to RTE Radio One’s Drivetime, Ms Patrick continued: “If Qayyum were still alive, he would be graduating next year.

“This is an unbelievable shock. We need justice for Qayyum.”

Gardai have appointed a family liaison officer to help ­Qayyum’s grieving relatives.

Officers have recovered CCTV footage as they seek to establish exactly what happened in the early hours of Monday.

Detectives believe a row between two groups at a gig in Bewley’s spilled onto surrounding streets.

However, Qayyum tried to avoid the violence and left through the Johnson’s Court exit of the venue.

He was spotted and chased to Clarendon Street, where he was stabbed.

One line of inquiry is that the attackers associated him with people they had been rowing with.

Cops have also trawled various social media pages as part of the investigation.

A source told The Irish Sun: “Gardai are making good progress in the case.

“A weapon has been recovered which they believe was used.

“But they have also built up a wider picture of what happened. There are a number of ­suspects being looked at here.”

An autopsy was carried out on Monday, with Qayyum’s body expected to soon be returned to his family, who are making funeral arrangements.

A number of tributes were paid to Qayyum yesterday.

Former school principal Padraig McGovern said he was a “lovely young lad”.

The Dundalk O Fiaich Institute of Further ­Education boss added: “Qayyum was very much part of our school community. Did very well in his programmes here, both his ­Leaving Cert and his Further ­Education programme.

“A guy with ambition, a guy with a goal and a chap that was making this goal real, if you like.

“And being successful, a credit to his family, a credit to his ­community and getting on with it.”

Mr McGovern said the school has been left “really shocked” by the news, with members of the local community ringing him “in shock and almost disbelief”.

He added: “I cannot imagine the devastation that has just fallen on this family.”

Pals also told of their heartache. One said: “Qayyum was the nicest person to interact with.

“Always smiling, never in any trouble. Just a pure, kind, innocent soul. My heart is gone cold. The pain is deeper than what you see.

“All the plans and dreams we had gone in an instant. Everyone knows his soft character. He didn’t deserve to go like that.”

Lassane Ouedraogo, chairperson of Africa Solidarity Centre Ireland, also passed on his condolences to Qayyum’s family. He said: “No family should have to endure the pain and suffering caused by such a devastating act of violence.”

Gardai are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the horrific killing to come forward.

A spokesman yesterday said: “Anyone who was in the Grafton Street or Clarendon Street area in the early hours of Monday morning between 2am and 3.30am and who may have camera footage, including CCTV or dash-cam, is asked to provide this footage to investigating gardai.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Investigations are ongoing.”