Polish man torched in vicious attack
Investigators have established more details of the attack after speaking with the 35-year-old victim at the burns unit at Cork University Hospital.
He is married with two children and had just arrived in the country having secured a job.
A number of detectives from Roxboro Road Garda Station, among them Det Sgt Denis Treacy, spoke with the victim on Tuesday night.
Supt Frank O’Brien said: “This was a random and brutal attack. The unfortunate victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are determined to get to the bottom of this as it is a huge concern in the community that we have people going around capable of doing this kind of thing. We are resolved to find who did this.”
Supt O’Brien said they have established the victim was walking along the Dock Road some time about 1.30am on Sunday morning on his way to a friend’s house.
A car with a number of people drove up to the victim at a location between a Texaco filling station and the Mungret roundabout and somebody got out of the car and tried to grab cans of beer from him.
Supt O’Brien said that without warning a substance was sprayed at the victim and flamed.
Supt O’Brien said it was more than likely an aerosol container that was lit, turning it into an improvised flame-thrower.
Despite serious burns, the victim managed to make his way on foot to his friend’s house which was about a half mile away.
They brought him to the nearby Mid-Western Regional Hospital and some hours later he was transferred to CUH due to the seriousness of his burns.
Supt O’Brien said they are investigating all traffic movements in the Dock Road area between 1.30am and 2.15am with the help of CCTV material acquired from various premises.
He said: “There were a number of people in this car and I would appeal to them if any of them has a sense of decency to contact the gardaí about this dreadful act. And other people travelling at the Dock Road at that time may also be able to assist us. To disfigure a person like this is an appalling act.”
Clothing worn by the victim has been sent for forensic examination.
Supt O’Brien said: “Random attacks of this kind are very rare.”
The victim had only just arrived in Ireland and had been picked up at Shannon on Saturday by the friends he was staying with. He came here for a short period in December to finalise plans for a job in Tipperary.
Gardaí plan to have further meetings with the victim as his recovery progresses.
