Gardaí have begun a murder investigation following the fatal stabbing of a teenager in a park in South County Dublin.

The 18-year-old was stabbed in Finsbury Park in Dundrum just after eight o’clock this Friday evening.

The teenager was treated at the scene by the emergency services before he was taken to St James's Hospital but was pronounced dead there a short time later.

It is believed he was with a group of youths, some of whom ran off afterwards.

Gardai at Dundrum are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

They have spoken to some youths who were at the scene but are still trying to identify and interview others.

The scene in Finsbury Park has been sealed off and the Garda Technical Bureau is due to carry out a forensic examination there in the morning.

No arrests have so far been made.