A Father of one from Palmers Green has been stabbed to death.

Martin Gorman, 24, who lived in the North Circular Road, died in the early hours of Sunday after he was stabbed in the neck by a man outside White Hart Lane Station in Tottenham.

Accompanied by a friend he stumbled towards the Crystal kebab shop where he was given first aid by passers-by. He later died at North Middlesex Hospital. Unemployed Mr Gorman, known as Paddy, had been drinking with friends at the Three Compasses in nearby Queen Street before the attack.

He is believed to have exchanged words with his killer outside the station before he was stabbed at around 1.15 am.

The killer is aged 24 to 25. He is described as black, six foot tall, with short afro hair. He was wearing a dark brown leather jacket and was carrying a black rucksack.

He was accompanied by a white, blonde haired woman aged between 22 and 24. She is five foot eight inches tall, slim and wore a light three quarter length leather coat.

The pair made off towards the Great Cambridge Road after the attack.

News of Mr Gorman's death is a devastating blow to those who know him, particularly the Thomsons of Northern Avenue, Edmonton, whom he regarded as his surrogate family.

Mr Gorman first met the Thomsons as a teenager after he left his family home in Ireland to live with his brother in Edmonton.

He later began dating Kerry Thomson and the couple had a daughter Bonnie, who is now aged three. Although the couple later split, Mr Gorman remained close to the family.

Kerry's mother Carol, 45, said: "It just rips you apart, I still cannot believe it.

"The family are in a terrible state. Every time the door goes I expect it to be him and Bonnie will run to the door and shout for her daddy.

"Everybody who knew Paddy loved him. He was such a joker and made everyone laugh. We were all very close to him. He even wrote me a poem once. He was a lovely man. I just can't believe he has gone."

Senior investigating officer DCI Martin James said: "I would especially like to speak to anyone who was in the area of White Hart Lane who may have witnessed the incident between 1.10 and 1.15am.

"Shortly before the attack Martin was seen dropping his trousers in front of passers-by and we know there were two girls who witnessed that incident.

"I would also like to speak to the woman who was in the company of the black man at the station. She may not realise that the man has died and she can provide vital information."

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 8345 4356 or See pages 21 and 26

November 13, 2002 11:00