'Really lovely' man, 70s, who died after Limerick assault named locally 

The victim was rushed to University Hospital Limerick with life-threatening injuries following the incident. Gardaí confirmed on Friday that the man died in hospital

Gardaí at the scene of the incident in Limerick. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

A man in his 70s has died after he was assaulted in Limerick City on Thursday, while another has been arrested in connection with the incident. 

Gardaí say they are "continuing to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the assault", which happened at St Michael’s Court, Watergate, at approximately 11.30pm.

The victim, who has been named locally as Michael Hayes, was rushed to University Hospital Limerick with life-threatening injuries following the incident. Gardaí confirmed on Friday that he died in hospital. The incident occurred outside Mr Hayes’s house.

The scene in Watergate has been preserved pending an examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The Office of the State Pathologist and local Coroner have been notified, and an autopsy has been arranged.

A man in his 40s has been arrested in connection with the incident and conveyed to a Garda station in Limerick city. He is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The man who died, Mr Hayes, has been described as a "lovely man" who would "go out of his way to do a good turn for you".

“I was very fond of him, I’m a good friend of his, I’ve known him since I was young, and I’m very sorry that he is gone,” said his neighbour, Geraldine Costello. 

"His dog, Daisy, is crying all the time because Michael is not there," she said. “I was only talking to [Michael] yesterday, I’m after getting an awful shock.”

Ms Costello's niece, Travy Coleman, said: “It is shocking, because he was a really lovely man, and he would always go out of his way and do whatever do you.

“There are no words to describe it, a lovely man doing his own thing, and his life just gone now like that,” said Ms Coleman.

“He was young for his age, everyday he was always going for walks.”  

It is understood Mr Hayes lived alone and has a number of grown-up children.

Sources said HSE paramedics responded quickly at the scene on Thursday night and valiantly tried to keep Mr Hayes alive at the scene and en route to University Hospital Limerick. He was pronounced dead by doctors after arriving at UHL on Friday morning.

Gardaí are working on a number of theories, including that Mr Hayes was assaulted by a man who was causing a disturbance locally and when Mr Hayes went to investigate, he was attacked.

Gardaí have also issued an appeal for witnesses. Anyone who was in the Watergate area of Limerick city on Thursday night between 11.15pm and 12am has been asked to contact investigating gardaí.

Road users with camera footage who were travelling in the area at the time have requested to make that footage available.

Gardaí say they can be contacted at Henry Street Garda Station on [phone], the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.