Men due in court over iron bar attack on businessman

Two men were charged last night in connection with a brutal iron bar attack in Cork City which has left a businessman fighting for his life.

Thu, 30 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Eoin English

The men, aged 19 and 25, were arrested shortly after the assault in Churchfield on Tuesday evening. They are due in court this morning.

The father of two young children who was beaten with the bar during a botched robbery is fighting for his life in Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The married man in his 30s from the northside of the city suffered severe head and brain injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma yesterday morning after his condition deteriorated.

He underwent several hours of emergency neurosurgery throughout the day. His condition was listed as critical last night.

He suffered a fractured skull after being struck at least four times on the head — one of the blows left a depression in his skull several centimetres deep. He also suffered two broken hands — the bones in one are so badly damaged doctors fear he may never be able to use it again — two broken legs, several broken fingers, and multiple cuts and bruises.

The victim, who works for a confectionery company, was attacked as he returned to an office in the Exchange Business Park off John F Connolly Rd in Churchfield, on the northside of the city, at about 4.45pm on Tuesday.

He was reversing his truck when he was confronted by two men who threatened him and demanded cash.

A struggle ensued during which he was repeatedly beaten with an iron bar.

He was left lying on the ground with multiple serious injuries as the two attackers fled empty-handed.

Local business people came to his aid and raised the alarm.

Gardaí and emergency services arrived quickly and gardaí canvassed CCTV footage and got good descriptions of the attackers.

Officers searched the area and arrested two men nearby within half an hour.

Supt Con Cadogan appealed for witnesses or anybody who may have seen anybody acting suspiciously around the scene at Churchfield Industrial Estate to contact them at Gurranabraher Garda Station on tel: 021-4946200.