Sports stars give statements on attack

TWO high-profile sports stars, who represent Ireland at international level, have given statements to gardaí investigating a late-night street assault that has left a man fighting for his life.

The two, along with a third man, walked into Pearse Street garda station last Monday to tell investigating gardaí what they knew of the assault on 35-year-old Barry Duggan. Mr Duggan was beaten up after falling from his bike in Dublin’s Grafton Street on Sunday.

He remains in a coma in intensive care in St James’s Hospital following the assault. The Sligo native was returning home to Rathmines at the time of the attack.

The two professional sports stars, both in their early 20s and from south Dublin, came forward with a third man, of a similar age and from Swords, as investigators trawled through CCTV footage.

The head of the organisation that controls the sport confirmed two members of the international squad had spoken to gardaí.

“Our position on this is that our concerns are very much with Mr Duggan, his future and hopefully his recovery,” the official said.

“We will consider making a statement when or if charges are brought, but at this point nobody has been charged and, in that situation, we have no further comment to make.”

One of the two sports stars represented Ireland recently and both would be expected to be picked for an international game in July. They are recognised as being among the best in Ireland in their field.

A garda spokesman could not comment on ongoing investigations. Files in connection with the assault are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Duggan was the victim of an unprovoked assault around 2am last Sunday morning on Grafton Street and nearby Lemon Street.

The incident is just one of a number of apparently senseless attacks recently. These include the slashing of a middle-aged woman in north Dublin and a knife attack on a man outside a Dublin nightclub.