Hunt for knife attacker who slashed brothers

GARDAÍ are searching for a knife attacker who stabbed two English brothers while they were on a stag weekend in Cork city.

Sean and Anthony Butler, from Manchester, were the victims of the unprovoked attack, which took place at Daunt Square.

Sean, 21, was slashed under the eye, and when his brother, 24, went to help him he was stabbed in the neck and arm.

Taxi driver John Crean took the men to Mercy University Hospital for treatment.

Even though they have returned to Manchester, they are continuing to receive medical care.

Following the attack, Sean said he would be slow to visit the city again.

“It happened on our first night in Cork. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.

He needed eight stitches to a 2cm deep wound under the eye.

Anthony also required eight stitches, to the wounds on his neck and arm.

The men were on their way back to their hotel last Friday morning when a lone knifeman peeled away from a group and just lashed out at the men.

Newly appointed Assistant Commissioner Kevin Ludlow has said that public order incidents continue to be an issue in Cork and many are alcohol-fuelled.

There were more than 600 recorded assaults in the city in the first nine months of this year.

Of those, 193 were considered serious because they were listed as assault causing harm.

Anybody with information about the attack on the Butler brothers is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda Station at 021-4522000.