Oz police may travel to interview Keohane
David Keohane, 29, from Ballyvolane, Cork, stunned his family and doctors at Cork University Hospital when he opened his eyes last month.
Detectives attached to Strike Force Tuesday — a special unit set up by Sydney police to investigate the attack — said yesterday that they are being kept up to date on his condition.
“At this stage, there are no plans for detectives to travel to Ireland to speak with David. That decision might be reviewed as David’s health improves,” a spokesman said.
Mr Keohane was found lying in a pool of blood in the Coogee beachside resort outside Sydney on August 2 last year.
The young flooring contractor was so badly beaten that police had difficulty identifying him.
He spent several weeks on a life-support machine in the Prince of Wales Hospital before he was stable enough to be airlifted home.
During his stay in hospital, his room was covered in paraphernalia dedicated to Mary MacKillop — the Australian miracle healer and nun who is in line to become Australia’s first saint.
Mr Keohane was also visited by a representative of the Mary MacKillop Foundation who prayed for him.
The Irish community rallied to raise thousands of dollars to help send him home. Quantas flew him to London before Irish company Lifeline Ambulances stepped in and airlifted him from London to Cork.
He finally arrived at CUH last September where his family has maintained a bedside vigil.
They believe their prayers were answered on St Patrick’s Day when Mr Keohane opened his eyes.
Seamus Collins, who played Gaelic football with Mr Keohane in Sydney, said the family is delighted.
“They are thanking Mary MacKillop for his recovery because all the prayers were sent to her,” he said.
“She has a little prayer that you can devote for strength and everything and she blessed him.
“Tom and his mother Rita were very supportive of her and I think they’re devoting the strength of his waking up towards her.”
Although Mr Keohane has a long road ahead, he is able to recognise people in family photographs. But friends say that he does not know what happened to him.
Three people have been arrested and charged in relation to the assault.
A 20-year-old man is before the courts on attempted murder and aggravated robbery with wounding charges.
His 20-year-old girlfriend has been charged with hindering police and concealing a serious offence.
A 39-year-old man is charged with hindering police and concealing a serious offence.
But the investigation is continuing and detectives issued a fresh appeal for help locating New Zealand national, Kane Desmond Tupuolamoui, 19, who they believe might be able to assist their inquiries.
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