A man who was stabbed to death on a London bus had lost his best friend in the King’s Cross bombing

Helen Nugent:

Richard Whelan, 28, was attacked as he travelled home from a night out with his girlfriend on Friday. He was stabbed at least six times after he asked a hooded thug to stop throwing chips at other passengers.

Mr Whelan, a hospitality agent from Kentish Town, North London, had comforted the family of Ciaran Cassidy, a victim of the July 7 bombings. Mr Whelan led the hunt for his friend before it was confirmed that he had been killed.

The two Arsenal fans met while they were working in Woolworths four years ago.

Mr Cassidy’s mother, Veronica, 53, said that Mr Whelan had been a huge support. “He was here from the moment Ciaran was missing,” she said. “They were good friends. Richard was not the sort to get into trouble.” The killer is described as black, in his twenties, and about 6ft. Witnesses said that he calmly got off the bus, leaving his victim to bleed to death. Last night police were studying CCTV footage.

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