Posted by Updated / Thursday, 16 Oct 2025 11:54
Crime Correspondent
The Ukrainian teenager who was stabbed to death at an emergency residential care unit in Dublin yesterday, had only arrived in Ireland in the last few days.
He has been named as 17-year-old Vadym Davydenko.
He died following a row at a Tusla care unit, which is at an apartment complex in Grattan Wood in Donaghmede.
The chief executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance said the murder of a child at this kind of unit is a very rare event.
Tanya Ward said many Ukrainian teenagers arrive in Ireland unaccompanied seeking international protection to avoid being conscripted amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
She said the National Review Panel needs to review what has happened at the unit to see if there are any “learnings” or anything that could have been done, but said that very often “nothing could have been done”.
Vadym sustained severe injuries to his head, face and upper body in the incident.
A post-mortem examination on his body is due to be carried out today.
A 17-year-old boy, who is from Somalia, and who sustained non-life threatening injuries during the incident remains in hospital.
Two other teenagers were also attacked, but one managed to fight off the assailant.
A female member of staff who tried to intervene sustained minor injuries.
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and Ministers for Justice and Children have all expressed their sympathies, shock and sadness and stated that gardaí must be given the time and space to conduct what is now a murder investigation.
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