Builder stabbed to death 'as he tried to stop teenagers gatecrashing party' in Edmonton

 
Victim: Jack Barry, 52 was stabbed to death. Right, police officers at the scene
Matt Watts17 December 2014
WEST END FINAL

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The family of a builder stabbed to death as he tried to prevent teenagers from gatecrashing a neighbour’s party today said his murder was a “tragic bolt from the blue.”

Jack Barry, 52, was allegedly knifed by a group of youths aged 13 and 14 in front of his girlfriend Sabrina Finn at the communal entrance to a block of flats in Edmonton, north London, on Sunday night.

Mr Barry had tried to stop the group from barging through the secure door after a warning was sent to residents not to let in strangers.

It is believed the boys may have been trying to go to a 13-year-old’s birthday party in a neighbouring flat.

The Irishman argued with the teenagers before he was stabbed, and stumbled a few metres to his door before he collapsed in a pool of blood.

Mr Barry’s family today described him as a “lovely man who will be missed by everybody”. He had recently returned with Miss Finn to Ireland, where he lived in Cobh, County Cork, until 1983, for a cousin’s wedding.

His uncle Noel Barry, who lives in County Wexford, said: “The whole family is shocked about what has happened, we are all struggling to take it in.”

Another relative said: “It’s a tragic bolt out of the blue. We heard what happened and we can’t believe it.”

A next door neighbour today described how he had comforted Miss Finn, a cleaner for the council, as paramedics battled in vain to save Mr Barry's life.

He said: “The police knocked on my door and said there was an incident and can we look after Sabrina.

“She said she was with her boyfriend and she was very low and worried, she didn’t want to talk to us. We offered her a cup of tea and she said no, we offered her some lemonade and she said no, she just stayed silent.”

“Later a doctor came and and said I’m sorry but the guy has passed away, she was crying and in a very bad way, the police took her away to ask her questions.”

He said Miss Finn had told him that the teenagers had been pressing a buzzer to try and gain entry to another flat.

Neighbour Stephen Gregory, 42, a roofer, told the Standard Mr Barry was “a really nice guy.”

“He would always stop and say hello to you. He was really nice and polite.”

“There was blood everywhere. Its tragic. They are such a nice couple.”

“He’s stood up to people before who have caused some trouble at the flats. He would have just been looking out for the neighbours again.”

Neighbour Gui Bouho, 44, described Mr Barry as a “likeable and friendly man”.

He said: “He was a hard worker and left early every morning at six or seven, and didn’t return home until around seven in the evening.

“He lived in a one-bedroom flat on the second floor with his girlfriend for about two years. They often popped out to the local shop together. She moved into the flat around eight years ago. As far as I know they didn’t have any children.”

Miss Finn was being comforted by her mother Catherine at the family home in Tottenham last night. Both were too distraught to speak.

Three teenage boys aged 14 and one aged 13 were last night bailed until January after being arrested yesterday on suspicion of his murder.

A fifth boy, aged 13, was today still being questioned on suspicion of murder.

The fatal stabbing of Mr Barry was the third violent death in Edmonton in the past 16 days.

Former Catholic school pupil Khiry Ford, 23, was fatally stabbed in the chest during a street fight on November 29 while Maciej Godlewski, 52, from Poland, suffered fatal head injuries in a fight on November 30. All the killings were within a mile of each other.

An elderly resident said: “Its got so bad around here. People are terrified to go out.”

Detective Chief Inspector Neale Baldock, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command who is leading the investigation, said: “Our initial inquiries have established that there was a supervised party taking place at another address within the block and the group of males were trying to gain access to this.

“The victim and this group were not known to each other - what started as a minor verbal altercation has escalated into a shocking act of violence.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 1570 or, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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