Ireland

Murder investigation after Irish charity worker John Curran found `stabbed' in South Africa hotel room

John Curran had recently stood down as a Director of Education at Mellon Educate in South Africa
John Curran had recently stood down as a Director of Education at Mellon Educate in South Africa John Curran had recently stood down as a Director of Education at Mellon Educate in South Africa

A MURDER investigations has been launched in South Africa after an Irish father-of-four has been found dead in a hotel apartment.

The Republic's Department of Foreign Affairs said it is offering consular assistance to the family of John Curran after his death on Wednesday in Cape Town.

South Africa Police Service Captain Ezra October told media an initial investigation indicates that the charity worker, who was in his sixties, suffered fatal stab wounds.

Mr Curran's mobile phone is missing and it is reported a person was seen on CCTV footage leaving the apartment with their face covered in the early hours of yesterday morning.

"We can confirm that police arrived at the apartment block and found a body with stab wounds, to the body," Mr October told the Irish Independent.

"We have assigned a senior detective to the case and carried out a forensic investigation of the apartment and sampling.

"This is definitely being investigated as a case of murder,” Captain Ezra October of the Cape Town Central police department said.

The former principal of the Good Shepherd National School in Dublin's Churchtowne, had recently stood down as a Director of Education at Mellon Educate in South Africa after a two-year contract and was due to return to Ireland after a holiday in Cape Town.

Mellon Educate posted a tribute to their "dear colleague and friend" on Facebook, who they said was killed "during a robbery".

Niall Mellon, CEO said Mr Curran "John was much loved by everyone who met him and especially by the thousands of children he helped during his time with Mellon Educate.