Road rage victim dies after hurley attack

A VICTIM of road rage died after being assaulted with a hurley in south Dublin last weekend.

Raymond Bates, a 49-year-old construction worker, originally from England, was attacked and beaten about the head with the hurley during the incident which took place in Sandymount last Sunday evening. Mr Bates, who was living in Sandymount, went home that night but after feeling unwell the next day sought treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital.

He was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital but went into a coma and died on Monday evening.

Gardaí yesterday made an appeal for witnesses to the attack which occurred at the junction of Tritonville Road, Sandymount Road, and Newbridge Avenue in Dublin 4 at about 7.30pm.

Garda sources have confirmed the incident took place after one vehicle pulled out in front of another at the junction.

The victim then honked his car horn, witnesses have said.

It is thought there was no damage to either vehicle involved in the incident.

Gardaí in Donnybrook are leading the investigation and local Superintendent Barry O’Brien yesterday appealed to anyone who had been a passenger on the number 2 local bus and witnessed the incident to come forward.

Passengers may have seen something and gardaí are asking them to contact them at the Irishtown Garda Station on 01-6669600.

Gardaí have since spoken to a man who came forward after the alleged road rage incident.

However, investigators did not get an opportunity to speak to the victim before he died.

It is believed Mr Bates had been living in Ireland for the last few months.

The family of the victim are understood to be preparing to bring his body home to England for burial, reports said last night.

It is thought Mr Bates may be the first person to have died following a road rage incident in this country.