Gardaí hope to speak to fire attack victim

LIMERICK gardaí today hope to speak to the Polish man who was turned into a human fireball in a horrific attack in Limerick early on Sunday morning.

The victim, who is in his 30s, is in a critical condition at the burns unit at Cork University Hospital.

He received serious burns to his head and hands after petrol was poured over him and he was set alight as he made his way to a friend’s house some time before 2am.

He had just returned to this country after spending Christmas at home in Poland. He had been invited to stay with friends in the Raheen area of Limerick before going back to Tipperary where he lives.

Supt Frank O’Brien said they have yet to find the exact location of the attack as they have been unable to speak with the victim.

“There are some suggestions that it happened at the Dock Road or Fr Russell Road. We are looking at CCTV footage from various locations and we have sent his clothing for forensic examination. He went out to meet friends and socialise at around 8pm on Saturday and arrived back at around 2am with bad burns and the people there got him to hospital.

“We are trying to fill in the gaps and we would appeal to anybody, and those in the Polish community who may have known of his movements, to contact us,” said Supt O’Brien.

The man is being sedated as part of his treatment for severe burns. “We are hoping so speak with him today,” he said.

Meanwhile, the youth shot and wounded in a city centre attack in Limerick last Friday was still in a critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital yesterday.

One bullet hit 18-year-old Jonathan Fitzgerald in the neck.

He was walking near the railway station when a gunman stepped from a car and fired a number of shots Mr Fitzgerald managed to run for his life.

Sources claimed the shooting is linked to the murder of Noel Crawford who was shot dead in December 2006.

Mr Crawford was not involved in crime.

However, sources believe a friend of his with a long criminal record may have carried out Friday’s shooting in the belief that Mr Fitzgerald knew who murdered Mr Crawford.