Gardaí appeal for witnesses after two attacks

GARDAÍ in Waterford and Kilkenny are appealing to the public for help after two men were left hospitalised after separate assaults.

One man has been arrested after a 19-year-old from south Kilkenny was left with serious head injuries following a row on John Street at 5.45pm on Monday.

The south Kilkenny man is in intensive care at Waterford Regional Hospital after the daylight attack. One man arrested for a drink-related offence following the attack was re-arrested yesterday.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone who might have witnessed the attack to contact them.

Meanwhile, in Kilkenny, gardaí are also looking for help, this time in tracing two culprits who left another young man fighting for his life at St Luke’s Hospital. The man was attacked and suffered a fractured skull in the attack along the Canal Walk sometime between 8pm and 10pm on Sunday.

As the two investigations continued yesterday, gardaí investigating the murder of Kilkennyman Jimmy Purcell in a flat on Henrietta Street in Waterford city are examining CCTV footage throughout the city in a bid to piece together Mr Purcell’s final movements before his death.

Door to door inquiries in the area around where Mr Purcell lived are also continuing. His cousin, Fr Willie Purcell in Kilkenny, described the deceased as a highly intelligent man and an avid reader who was well informed in history and many areas.

“People who lived in the area described him as a thoughtful man who looked out for other people and who would have no problem confronting bullies,” Fr Purcell added.

A qualified chef, Jimmy Purcell travelled extensively in his younger days and lived in Australia, the US, Canada and India. He has three surviving sisters who live in the Clonmel area.

Since he returned to Ireland about 15 years ago, he travelled around the country and eventually settled in Waterford city about two years ago.