Fund to help assault victim tops €100,000

Over €100,000 has been raised to aid a Lithuanian man who has been left severely brain damaged after being attacked on the banks of the Royal Canal in Dublin, it emerged today.

Gardaí who investigated the attack suffered by Vytautas Sukys, 50, on September 25, 2004, set up the fund less than a fortnight ago.

Detective Inspector Colm Fox said the public reaction to the fund set up in the EBS in Dublin’s Phibsborough had been phenomenal.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the public in coming forward the way they have done on both occasions, both as witnesses to the assault, and contributors to the financial appeal,” Det. Insp. Fox said.

Det. Insp. Fox, who said the man was left in a coma for five months following the attack, added: “It is horrific. It is the worst that I’ve ever seen. I’d have seen a lot of assaults, but this is the worst on someone who has survived.”

The 50-year-old has difficulty speaking, walking and suffers seizures following the brain injuries.

Mr Sukys’ wife, Neringa, now spends her days in the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords, Co Dublin, trying to teach the 50-year-old to walk and talk again.

He came to Ireland in October 2003 to earn enough money as a landscape gardener to support his wife and son, and achieve his dream of gaining a pilot’s licence to fly passenger planes.

Det. Insp. Fox, who set up the Vytautas Sukys Fund at the EBS in Phibsborough to raise money to support him, said the lives of everyone involved have completely changed.

Their son, Tadas, had to give up his university course in Lithuania too as there were no funds left to support him.

The EBS in Phibsborough confirmed the Vytautas Sukys Fund stands at over €101,000. Since the fund was set up, thousands of donations varying from €3.50 to €1,000 have flooded in from all over the country.

A number of children gave savings and others organised sponsored events.