Mark Corcoran’s family have spoken of their devastation at the death of their son.

Three policemen woke stepdad Alan Smith and mum Julia at 4am on Monday morning and told them their son had been stabbed.

Mark, 26, from Shirley, died after the incident in Whitehorse Lane at around 8.20pm on Sunday.

It is believed he staggered to nearby Subitha Food and Wine, where staff called the emergency services.

Mr Smith spoke to the Croydon Guardian from his home in Shirley.

He said: “We did not know anything until 4am on Monday morning. Three policemen knocked on the door and asked me if I had a stepson called Mark Corcoran. I said ‘yes’ and they said, ‘he was murdered last night’, all in one sentence. It was very black and white.

“They said he had one stab wound, they tried to resuscitate him.

“It is really difficult, we are just devastated and his mum Julia is beside herself, her and Mark were very close.

“He would never look for trouble, he is not that sort of lad. We have no idea why this happened.

“We are all in shock.

“He had a girlfriend who was a bit older than him, he had been going out with her for about 10 years. Just recently they had words and he came to stay with his mum.

“He has one brother, Gary, who is two years older than him.”

Mr Smith said Mark went for a drink with Gary before going to his friend’s wedding reception on the day of the murder.

He said: “He went to a friend’s wedding, it was someone he knew, an acquaintance. He did not know whether to go or not.

“He was a family lad, quite outgoing. He had done building work for a firm in Croydon.

“He did not have a great deal of friends but he was well liked around here. I just can’t believe it.

“He had a disabled auntie and he used to sit with her and chat with her and take her out, that is just the kind of person he was.

“He was a bit of a scamp.

“His friend Mitch died in a similar way five years ago on Abbey Road in Selsdon. Mitch was from the Monksfield Estate.

“They were inseparable, people used to call them Beavis and Butthead. They were going to set up together.”

* A man in his 40s has been arrested in connection with the incident.

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