Soldier left fighting for his life after pub attack

A YOUNG soldier is fighting for his life after being attacked in the smoking room of a pub.

Gardaí say the 22-year-old soldier, believed to be a private, suffered serious head injuries when was he attacked early yesterday morning in the pub at Youghal, Co Cork.

Superintendent Flor Horan, who is leading the Garda investigation, said the alleged assault took place at The Usual Place pub at South Main Street, Youghal shortly after 12.30am.

The soldier, who is understood to be single and based at Collins Barracks in Cork, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where his condition deteriorated after arrival.

Shortly before midday doctors were forced to carry out emergency brain surgery in an attempt to stabilise his condition.

Gardaí had been called to the pub shortly after the incident.

Supt Horan said they sealed off the area and carried out a thorough forensic examination of the premises, especially the smoking room.

Detectives seized CCTV footage from the public house and are also looking at footage recorded in nearby premises.

Supt Horan said there was a large crowd in the pub at the time and there could have been upwards of 20 people in its smoking room at the time the attack to place.

“A number of witness statements have been taken from people who were in the bar at the time.

“But we are still appealing for anybody who saw the incident and who has yet to contact us to come forward as soon as possible,” Supt Horan said.

The attack is being treated so seriously that gardaí in Youghal have set up a special incident room as part of their investigation.

“Primarily we want to speak to anybody who was in the smoking room of the bar between 12.20am and 12.40am.

“But we also want to speak to anybody who saw anybody going into or out of the bar during those times,” the superintendent said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Youghal garda station at 024-92200.