Two Limerick men, whose assault on a Cork financial adviser left him in a coma and fighting for his life, walked free from court yesterday after paying €30,000 compensation.

The family of a Co Cork financial adviser was told he might never come out of a coma and, if he did, might remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life as a result of an unprovoked assault when out socialising with his girlfriend, a court heard.