Gardaí to interview victim of hammer assault

GARDAÍ are set to interview a man who had to undergo life-saving surgery after being savagely assaulted with knives and a hammer.

The 38-year-old father was stabbed repeatedly and beaten around the head and body in a housing estate in west Dublin.

Detectives hope the victim will be able to identify the assailant and provide details regarding the assault.

The attack took place after the victim approached a house in Lindesfarne Park in Clondalkin at around noon last Sunday.

Gardaí said there were a number of people inside the house.

“When the man left he was followed and assaulted,” said a garda source.

“He suffered multiple stab wounds and was subjected to a serious physical assault. He was beaten about the head and body area with a blunt instrument.”

Detectives suspect there was only one assailant.

The victim, from St Mark’s Crescent, Clondalkin, was brought to Tallaght Hospital where he underwent an emergency operation.

The surgery was successful and gardaí said he was off the critical list and in a stable condition.

Gardaí said the victim was willing to cooperate with their investigation. Detectives said they wanted to carry out a formal interview before taking the matter further.

Gardaí would not comment on the possible motives behind the assault.

Detectives in Clondalkin are also expected to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in connection with the fatal stabbing of John Cunningham last November.

Mr Cunningham, aged 26 and a father-of-two, was stabbed in the upper body and beaten with a snooker cue on the Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, on November 4.

Gardaí arrested nine people - three women and six men - this month in relation to the murder, some on suspicion of participation in the crime and others for withholding information.

“We are certainly progressing the investigation,” said a garda source. “A file will be going to the DPP when all the consolidated reports are in from forensics, interviews and eye-witness reports.”

Meanwhile, officers are investigating the discovery of an elaborate hoax bomb outside the home of a garda in west Dublin last week.

Gardaí said they were pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, but had nothing specific to report yet.

Clondalkin Garda Station can be contacted at 01-6667600.