Garda appeal as hat-trick hero in critical condition after assault

GARDAÍ last night issued another appeal for witnesses to an assault that left a former Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest soccer player in critical condition in a Cork hospital.

Miah Dennehy was assaulted outside the Fob and Gill pub in Mayfield on Friday night.

He was found suffering from serious head injuries by a member of the public, who immediately contacted emergency services.

It was initially reported to gardaí that he had fallen, but later emerged he had been beaten.

Gardaí are not looking for a weapon in the case.

Mr Dennehy, who is in his 50s and separated with two children, was rushed to Cork University Hospital where last night he remained in a critical but stable condition.

Mr Dennehy played with Cork Hibernians in the 1970s before moving to Nottingham Forest, where he played as a winger from 1972-1975.

He also spent three years with Walsall.

He was capped 11 times for the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Dennehy has the honour of being the first man in the history of the FAI Cup to score a hat-trick, when he played in the 1972 final between Cork Hibs and Waterford.

In latter years he worked in maintenance at Jurys Hotel on the Western Road in Cork city.

Superintendent Martin Shanahan, who is leading the investigation into the assault, said there have been no arrests so far. “We have a lot of witnesses already but there may be someone out there that we do not know about,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí in Mayfield on 021-4558510.