Corkman fights for life after Boston assault

A young Cork businessman is fighting for his life in hospital after an early morning assault and robbery in the US.

The victim, Gary Halpin, in his 30s and a father of one, was viciously attacked in the Dorchester area of Boston.

Police said that an investigation is continuing. Cobh-born Mr Halpin was found beaten at 4.14am on Sunday.

A bank card was stolen during the assault and cash has since been withdrawn from the account.

Police said Dorchester was normally “a quiet neighbourhood” and predominantly Irish.

Officially, police in Boston have not named the victim. Police spokeswoman Katherine Shea said a man was discovered, by a police patrol, unconscious near the corner of Gallivan Boulevard and Adams St in the Dorchester area of the city, after a phone call had been received.

According to reports, Mr Halpin remains in “a serious condition” at Boston Medical Centre after sustaining life-threatening injuries.

The attack is said to have happened just a few blocks from the home he shares with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

A son of Kevin and Theresa Halpin, Gary has three brothers and a sister. He lived in Marian Terrace in Carrigaloe, Cobh, before emigrating a few years ago.

Police in Boston are remaining tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the attack.

However, they have made an appeal for anybody who witnessed the incident to contact them.

They have also asked the public to provide them with information on the victim’s movements prior to the assault.

Even though the Boston police said they would deal with information from anonymous sources, they have acknowledged some potential witnesses may not have legal immigrant status and, therefore, may be reluctant to come forward.

Witnesses, who do not have legitimate work permits, have, as such, been asked to contact Boston’s Irish Pastoral Centre or the Irish International Immigrant Centre.

The area where Mr Halpin was attacked was considered to be one of the safest in Boston.

However, in Oct 2011, it was the scene of the murder of Irishman Ciaran O Conghaile who had been “in the wrong place at the wrong time” when he was shot dead near his home by a gunman who botched a robbery.

The 36-year-old who had worked in the construction industry was from Inis Meain in the Aran Islands.