Man critical after Limerick assault

A Co Limerick man is being treated in hospital for serious head injuries after a violent assault in Newcastle West in the early hours of yesterday morning.

He has been named locally as Seán Ambrose, aged 33, from the Kileedy area and works in agriculture. He is in a critical condition at Cork University Hospital after being transferred from University Hospital Limerick.

Mr Ambrose had been in Newcastle West on Sunday evening to watch a match.

A local man, described as a well-known sportsman in the Newcastle West area, was arrested at the scene of the assault for a breach of public order and brought to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick. He was released without charge as theprobe under Insp Brian O’Donovan continues.

The assault happened at around 2.30am and up to 10 people are reported to have witnessed the attack.

According to one source: “A group of people were standing in the square and all of a sudden one man hit another with his fist, knocking him to the footpath.”

It is believed Mr Ambrose had earlier been at a fast food outlet with friends when there was an exchange of words. Later there was another incident in a pub.