Man seriously injured in Sligo drinking brawl

A MIDDLE-AGED man suffered serious head injuries after he challenged his drinking buddy to hit him during a daylight brawl in Sligo.

Gardaí said the 49-year-old man had been out drinking with his friend in the town on Thursday and a row erupted as they walked across a footbridge at around 6.45pm.

The assault, which occurred on a pedestrian bridge connecting Stephens Street car park and Rockwood Parade, was seen by a number of eyewitnesses.

They told gardaí the men were involved in a verbal row and the injured party told his friend: “hit me, hit me.” His friend struck him in the head. He fell to the ground and may have suffered further injuries as he fell.

Eyewitnesses rang 999 and an ambulance and gardaí arrived within minutes.

The man was first taken to Sligo General Hospital, but, due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was transferred to the specialist head injuries unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.

A Garda spokesman last night said the victim remained in a “serious condition” in Beaumont.

“At this early stage of the investigation it would appear that the injured party was in the company of another male at Richmond Parade when a dispute arose which resulted in the injured party receiving head injuries.

“A number of witnesses have already come forward. However, gardaí are anxious that anyone else with information, or anyone that was in or around the Stephens Street car park or Rockwood Parade area last night between 6pm and 7pm contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 9157000, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666111 or any garda station.”

Garda sources told the Irish Examiner they were tracking down the assailant. “They know who did it,” said one source.