Murder probe as man dies after assault

A MURDER investigation was underway in Limerick last night after 18-year-old Darren Coughlan was pronounced dead at the Mid-Western regional hospital.

Mr Coughlan, from Moyross was admitted to the hospital late on Friday night after he was assaulted at the old Cratloe road.

He was with a number of friends when a car pulled up and an argument occurred.

Eyewitnesses have told gardaí that three men chased Mr Coughlan and assaulted him, kicking him in the head. He was rushed to the mid-western regional hospital where he had been on a life-support machine since his admission.

The machine was turned off on the advice of consultants at around 6pm yesterday.

A major murder investigation is now underway.

It is the second murder investigation in Limerick within nine days. A week earlier a 25-year-old man, David Nunan, was found shot dead in Parteen village on the outskirts of Limerick city.

The death of Darren Coughlan was last night the focus of a huge garda investigation in the north side of the city.

He was a teenager known to gardaí and had been involved in a number of previous assaults.

The two murders come after a period of 14 months when there was no violent death in Limerick.

Members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been drafted in to assist the crime units who are leading the investigations into the murders of David Nunan and Darren Coughlan.

Det Inspector Bob Noonan who is heading the investigation into both murders appealed for witnesses who may have information to contact them.