Malika killer cut child's throat in front of mother during row over social media use, it is claimed

The killer of tragic Malika Noor Al Katib cut her throat in front of her mother in a row over social media use, it has emerged.

And, as gardai continue to quiz the suspect for the brutal murder of the eight year-old, sources have told The Mirror that the man being questioned had only come back to Ireland days before the horror killing.

We have learned that the suspect, who is a foreign national in his 30s, was recently released from prison in the United Kingdom, where he had served a sentence for a fraud-related offence.

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He then came back to New Ross in Co Wexford, where he had been living for several years before his imprisonment. Sources say he returned to New Ross shortly before the horror incident in which Malika and her mother Alisha Noor Al Katib were both stabbed in the family home on William Street in the town late on Sunday night.

"He only came back a matter of days before the stabbings," a source told The Mirror.

"He had been serving a prison sentence in England. As soon as he got out, he came back to New Ross."

We have also learned that Malika's mum Alisha who received several stab wounds in the incident has told associates that the row that led to the attack started because of social media. Sources say she indicated that the man was not happy that Alisha had access to social media platforms.

The sources also confirmed that Malika, who was a student at New Ross Educate Together National School, was in bed when the row started at around 11.40pm on Sunday.

A source said Malika heard Alisha screaming and ran downstairs to see what was happening. When she reached the ground floor, she saw Alisha being stabbed and ran to help her. But sources confirmed the man turned the knife on Malika and cut her throat in front of Alisha.

"Alisha tried to help Malika but she had been stabbed herself," a source said. "But she managed to get to the front door where she screamed for help to the neighbours."

The man then turned the knife on himself, but received only superficial wounds. He was taken to University Hospital Waterford along with Malika and Alisha after gardai rushed to the scene when neighbours raised the alarm.

Medics fought to save Malika, but she died in the early hours of Monday morning. Alisha received serious stab wounds, but is not in danger and local Imam Rashid Munir told The Mirror this morning that she will be attending Malika's funeral.

That had been planned for today, but Imam Munir said the girls' body has not yet been released to the family and it is now expected to take place later this week. He said under Islamic law, funerals must take place as soon as possible. Meanwhile, gardai are today still questioning the suspect on suspicion of Malika's murder.

He was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after he was discharged from hospital in Waterford. He was being held at a Garda station in Co Wexford. Gardai have 24 hours to question him, and that period will run out later today. Gardai confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman said: "Gardai continue to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the death of an eight year old girl following a fatal assault at a residence in New Ross, Co. Wexford on Sunday 1st December, 2024.

"The post-mortem examination which was conducted by State Pathologist, Dr Sally Anne Collis took place yesterday Monday 2nd December, 2024 the results of which will not be released for operational reasons.

"A male, aged in his 30s has been released from hospital and arrested on suspicion of Murder. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region. Investigating Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have any information on this fatal assault to come forward.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact New Ross Garda Station on 051 426 030, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any Garda Station. This investigation is ongoing."

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