GARDAI investiging the murder of Wexfordman Jason Ryan (27) questioned a local suspect last weekend in connection with his death.

Mr. Ryan died in the early hours of last Wednesday morning after being stabbed a number of times on the street in Hollyville Heights in Wexford town where he lived.

The victim who was known to the gardai through his appearances in the District Court, was attacked after he answered a late night call to his door.

The suspect, a 25-year-old man who was on temporary release from Wheatfield Prison where he is coming to the end of a sentence for assault, was brought to Wexford Garda Station last Friday for questioning.

He was detained overnight under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The suspect was released from Garda custody on Saturday and returned to prison.

The man had been on temporary release from Wheatfield where he is serving a sentence for assault but had not returned on the due date.

His prison release was revoked on Wednesday morning after the shock news of Mr. Ryan's death began to circulate around the town.

Gardai are currently preparing a file on the case for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A senior garda involved in the investigation said it is hoped the file will be ready for the DPP 'in a matter of weeks.'

The DPP will then give her direction in the case.

There is currently only one suspect in the case but garda enquiries are ongoing, according to the spokesman.

Jason Ryan died in Wexford General Hospital at 5 a.m. last Wednesday after being stabbed a number of times.

The attack took place around midnight on the street in Hollyville Heights where he lived after he answered a late night knock on the door from a male caller.

Following the assault, the fatally injured man managed to make it back to the house where he resided with his partner Samantha.

She telephoned the emergency services and an ambulance and gardai quickly arrived on the scene.

Jason was taken to Wexford General Hospital where a medical team fought in vain to save his life.

Distressed family members rushed to the hospital on heaing news of the attack.

Tragically, Mr. Ryan was pronounced dead a few hours later and a Garda investigation was immediately launched.

The apartment where he lived was sealed off for forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

A crime scene tent was erected a few hundred yards away around the location of the attack, in the driveway of another house on the Hollyville Heights estate.

Meanwhile, a red Seat Ibiza car parked on the edge of a footpath in nearby Talbot Green, was also cordoned off as part of the investigation.

The body of the murdered Wexfordman was brought to Waterford Regional Hospital where a post-mortem examination was carried out by the Assistant State Pathologist, Dr. Jabbhar on Wednesday afternoon.

On Saturday, Mr. Ryan's body was released to his bereaved family for burial.

He is survived by his mother Catherine; his sisters Kelly and Leah; his brother Barry; his partner Samantha; his son Myley; daughter Bridget; nephew Willie and extended family and friends including his friend Scotty.

He was laid to rest in Castlebridge Cemetery on Monday afternoon following funeral Mass in Bride Street Church.

At the close of the Mass, a family member spoke on behalf of Jason's family, thanking everyone for their support at a very difficult time.

The ambulance crew and staff of Wexford General Hospital who 'fought so hard' to save his life, were singled out for mention along with the gardai for their ' kindness, professionalism and respectful presence'.

- MARIA PEPPER