Man, 30s, charged in connection with Cork samurai sword murder

Ian Baitson was attacked in Cobh last week.

Mr Baitson passed away on Tuesday, March 19 in Cork University Hospital following an attack which took place on the Newton Road in Cobh, shortly before 9pm on Friday.

Mr Baitson was attacked after he approached a man in a car, who swung a long-bladed weapon at him, believed to have been a Samurai sword, striking him on one of his legs, and causing devastating injuries.

On Friday, a man was arrested on suspicion of murder, and, in an update on Sunday afternoon, Gardaí revealed that the man has since been charged.

He is expected to appear before Midleton District Court on Monday.

In a statement to JOE, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: "The man in his 30s arrested as part of this investigation has been charged and is expected to appear before Midleton District Court at 10:30am on Monday 25th March 2024."

Man, 30s, charged in connection with Cork samurai sword murder

In a death posted on RIP.ie, Mr Baitson's family thanked those who rushed to help the man after he was attacked.

The post reads: "We, Ian’s family wish to thank our extended family and friends for the unwavering help and support throughout this hard time.

"Arian and Liam whose heroic efforts kept Ian with us so we were able to say our goodbyes, to his great friends Sarah and Gary for being constantly by his side for days that followed."

It continued: “Ian’s friends who travelled home from abroad to say their last goodbyes and to the staff of the ICU ward, the paramedics, gardai, surgeons and nursing staff who helped prepare us for the devastating loss of a beautiful and wonderful person.”

18-year-old German exchange student Arian Hanitzsch, was one of the first on the scene and applied first aid to Mr Baitson after the attack.

Speaking on Cork's Red FM, the Coláiste Eamon Rís student said he was left shaken from the incident, adding: "My thoughts and my prayers are with Ian and his family because what they're going through is so much worse than what I was going through.

"And that's why it is so important that everyone thinks of them and my thoughts and prayers are with them."

Header image via RIP.ie.