Man almost lost three fingers after attack in Waterford

Gardaí in Waterford have been conducting door-to-door inquiries after a assault left a 20-year-old in danger of losing some of his fingers.

Surgeons at Cork University Hospital were yesterday trying to repair serious damage done to the hand of a man who was attacked at a housing estate on Monday afternoon.

The victim was named as Dean Flynn from Waterford city.

Gardaí believe either a saw or a large knife was used to inflict severe injuries on Mr Flynn during the incident which happened at a green area in the Priory Lawn section of Ballybeg, just off Waterford City’s Cork Road.

Initial reports suggested that three fingers were severed by the person or persons who committed the assault. Mr Flynn was also beaten during the attack.

The area where the assault happened, at about 2.50pm on Monday, is close to the shopping area and the church in Ballybeg.

It’s understood the victim made his way to a house in nearby Ardmore Park and, after the alarm was raised, he was initially brought by ambulance to University Hospital in Waterford but later transferred to Cork University Hospital where doctors worked on his hand.

“He has serious damage to two fingers and a thumb,” a garda involved in the investigation said. “He’s not in any immediate danger but it is a severe-enough assault.”

Officers from the Waterford station have been carrying out inquiries in an attempt to establish the identity of the assailant or assailants. It’s believed either one or two people inflicted the injuries.

Gardaí do not believe there is any gang element to the incident, or that it is related to drug activity.

They had not been able to speak to the victim by yesterday afternoon but were hoping to be able to interview him in hospital today.

Mr Flynn does not live in Ballybeg but is understood to have relatives in that part of Waterford. City councillor John Hearne described the attack as “savagery” and called for more garda resources in Waterford.

“They’re looking at tackling gangland crime in Dublin,” he said. “We need the same resources down here and we need a stronger will to go with them.”