Attackers who cut off hand caught on tape

CCTV footage captured two men as they went to attack a man in a pub with a samurai sword and a hammer, resulting in the victim’s hand being completely severed.

Luckily, the victim did not die from blood loss and surgeons were later able to reattach the hand to the arm, although it is not known if the procedure has been successful.

The Deputy Mayor pub in Meakestown, Finglas, north Dublin, was busy with locals at 9.15pm on Sunday when the assault happened.

It is the latest in a series of attacks involving samurai swords and has led to renewed calls for a ban on the sale of such weapons.

One of the alleged attackers — a well-known drug dealer — was arrested shortly after the incident and gardaí believe it is only a matter of time before they locate the second attacker.

“Two men entered the pub, one with a hammer and the other with a samurai sword and attacked the man,” said a Garda source.

He said the 27-year-old man was rushed to the Mater Hospital, before being transferred to St James’s Hospital.

The victim underwent surgery. Garda sources said the surgery had been completed by mid-morning and that the hand had been reattached.

A hospital spokeswoman said later: “The man is in stable condition in recovery.”

She declined to confirm whether the hand was successfully reattached.

The Garda source said the man’s hand had been “completely severed” in the attack.

“He was attacked first with the hammer, then the other person came in with the sword. He was trying to defend himself and his hand was cut off.”

A number of Garda units were dispatched to the pub and searches were carried out in the area, during which they stopped a man travelling in a van.

Gardaí arrested the man. Detectives are satisfied he is one of the attackers.

The pub has internal cameras and it is understood it has good footage of the attackers, who were not masked.

Gardaí said a number of people had left the pub at the time of the incident and had not yet come forward. They have appealed to them to make contact, in confidence if necessary, on the Garda Confidential Line freephone at 1800 666 111.