Petrol attack victim stable
Tom Hourigan, senior manager of mental health services with the Mid-Western Health Board, is recovering from burns to his face and hands following an horrific attack outside his home in Limerick last Thursday night.
The 51-year-old was getting out of his car at his home in Meadowvale, Raheen, at 9.15pm when a masked man threw petrol at him and then set it alight.
Mr Hourigan’s wife and teenage son witnessed the frightening ordeal, which has sent shock waves through the local community.
Investigating gardai are still unclear about a motive for the attack which has brought condemnation from the Mid-Western Health Board and senior politicians.
While senior garda sources say the attack was not work-related detectives have been examining Mr Hourigan’s office as part of the investigation.
Fingerprint experts have examined his office at the Mid-Western Health Board on Catherine Street in Limerick and detectives have also checked the work contacts of the senior health board worker.
“This is all part of the routine investigation, but there is nothing to suggest that this attack was work related,” said a garda source.
“We still have no clear motive for the attack and no arrests have yet been made. We spoke briefly to the injured party but we would expect to speak to him at length again.” A search is also being carried out for a container, which may have contained the petrol.
