Retired sports writer attacked outside pub
Eamon Horan, a well-known retired sports journalist and author, had his jaw broken in two places, suffered a fractured nose and other head and facial injuries when he was set upon, punched and kicked moments after he had left the Munster Bar in Tralee, Co Kerry.
The 75-year-old, who has a heart condition, had initially been approached and asked for money.
The incident continued for over two minutes despite Mr Horan pleading with his assailants to take the €50 he had in his pocket.
His attackers fled when a taxi driver stopped and ran to assist the pensioner.
The retired sports journalist and former champion handball player, who was a hugely respected reporter with The Kerryman for many years, was treated at the emergency department of Kerry General Hospital shortly after the attack last Wednesday night.
However, he was transferred to Cork University Hospital after he suffered a severe nose bleed.
He returned to Tralee by train as no beds were available in Cork but he was admitted for treatment on Tuesday morning.
Gardaí, who described the assault as particularly nasty, have appealed to anybody who may have spotted three young men in dark clothes and white runners in Ballymullen area of Tralee last Wednesday night, to contact them.
Mr Horan is known throughout the country for his long career as one of the country’s best sports reporters.
He was a respected observer of the GAA scene and he was at his prime during the period known as Kerry’s golden years era.
Former colleagues in The Kerryman have told of their outrage and shock following the attack on one of Kerry’s best-known senior citizens.
“The attack is an appalling indictment of the moral depths to which some parts of our society has fallen,” said editor Declan Malone.
“This act is at the extreme end of the violence scale involving as it does a defenceless, elderly man out alone after dark and a gang of young thugs.”
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