Plea to find attackers behind ‘savage’ assault

THE violent attackers who left Vincent O’Brien with injuries he would never recover from are still walking the streets.

In August 2005, the three men, believed to be in their late 20s, left him with brain damage and in a vegetative state which required constant care.

Last night assistant State pathologist Michael Curtis was to conduct a post mortem on the 41-year-old Ballyfermot man and decide what caused his death.

The results of this will decide if the investigation into the attack can be upgraded to a murder inquiry.

Kevin Street Superintendent Thady Muldoon said: “This was a savage assault, it left the poor man in a terrible condition and it was always as close as you can get to a murder.”

Despite four arrests and a potential €10,000 reward, the men who savagely beat the man from O’Moore Road, Ballyfermot, at 2.45am on August 18, 2005, have not been identified.

It happened after Mr O’Brien left a friend’s house on Huband Road, Bluebell.

Gardaí have made numerous appeals to find out what happened and have featured the case on the Crimecall television programme.

However, no witness who can identify the group has ever come forward.

Supt Muldoon said he was still hopeful his attackers would be brought to justice. “Hopefully maybe now somebody will come forward. It is very difficult for the family.”

Kilmainham Garda Station can be contacted at 01-6669750 as well as Crimestoppers, free and confidential, on 1800 250 025.