Man (30s) arrested and charged over fatal stabbing of Irish woman in New York bar

Thirty-six-year-old Marcin Pieciak, with an address in Queens has been charged with murder intention and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon after being arrested yesterday in the confines of the 104 Precinct.

A spokesperson from the New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Public Information (DCPI) said no details over when Mr Pieciak was to appear in court were available at present.

Ms McNally died from a suspected stab wound to her neck after being allegedly attacked inside the doors of The Ceili House pub on Grand Avenue in Maspeth, Queens, on Saturday evening at around 6.30pm.

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According to US sources, New York Police responded to a 911 call at around 6.35pm in relation to an assault where they found the Longford woman with a stab wound to her neck and a man with a stab wound to his back and neck.

Both were taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition by EMS, with the woman later passing away from her injuries, police said.

Ms McNally originally hailed from Longford town before emigrating to the US a number of years ago.

It is understood she has been resident in New York for much of that time and had been working in the local hospitality sector.

News of her passing back home has continued to be met with widespread shock and dismay.

Tributes to Ms McNally from family and friends continued to pour in online over the weekend.

“Rest in peace my beautiful niece Sarah, we are heartbroken, love you always,” Ms McNallys’s aunt Mary wrote in a tribute posted to social media.

Another of Ms McNally’s aunts Margaret Gaffey added: “My beautiful niece taken too soon. Love you.”

A former member of St Mel’s Musical Society, which Ms McNally was a part of, said: “We are all deeply shocked and saddened over the tragic and untimely death of Sarah McNally.”

“Deepest sympathy to her parents Dorothy and Dessie and to all of her extended family. May she rest in peace.”

Local Cllr Seamus Butler said details surrounding the tragedy had left the local community of Longford town in a state of numbed disbelief.

"She was Longford born and she was a former pupil of Scoil Mhuire in Longford where my wife actually taught her,” he said.

"Obviously the NYPD have to do their job and find out what happened but it is really shocking. All we can do is just pray for her family hopefully her remains can be repatriated.”