Boss pays tribute to murder victim Tom Kirwan

Murder victim Tom Kirwan was today described as a "great employee, team mate and friend" by the managing director of the firm where he worked.

The 23-year-old Wolves fan was stabbed in the chest after a night out with friends at the Uberra nightclub in Wolverhampton.

Today's tribute, from managing director Simon MacVicker, came as police revealed Mr Kirwan may have been stabbed with an object other than a knife.

Mr MacVicker, boss of Bridgnorth Aluminium, where Mr Kirwan worked as a hot rolling processor, today said staff he had spoken to had all talked in glowing terms about their former colleague.

He added: "He was an excellent worker, he worked really well with the rest of the shift and he was always a happy, positive force in the company. He had a very bright future ahead of him."

Detectives today revealed Mr Kirwan, from Oxley, may not have been stabbed with a knife.

A team of 30 officers are working on viewing CCTV from the nightclub, as well as interviewing some of the 600 people who were in and around the venue, in Wednesfield Road, on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

Officers are looking at the possibility Mr Kirwan – due to marry his partner of six years Jade Elwell, aged 21, next year – may have been stabbed as a result of a "petty" argument.

He suffered multiple stab wounds and was later pronounced dead at New Cross Hospital. Mr Kirwan's devastated mother Emer and fiancee Jade have made an emotional plea for help catching his killer.

Mr Kirwan was also looking at joining the Territorial Army and forming his own business. He was also in the process of setting up a Sunday football team on behalf of the ECC Sports & Social Club in Bushbury.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact West Midlands Pol-ice on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

By Crime Correspondent Shaun Jepson