Gardaí probe assault on Cork hospital patient shortly before visit by health minister

The victim, a hospital inpatient aged in his 50s, was allegedly struck with an iron bar after he encountered another man outside the Mercy University Hospital

Gardaí arrested and questioned a man, aged in his 50s, in relation to the assault. He has since been released without charge. Picture: Denis Scannell

A patient at Cork's Mercy University Hospital sustained serious injuries in an assault on Sunday, just minutes before health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill visited the hospital.

The assault took place outside the hospital around 9.30am. The victim, a hospital inpatient aged in his 50s, was allegedly struck with an iron bar after he encountered another man shortly after leaving the hospital grounds to smoke a cigarette. 

After the incident, the victim was brought back into the hospital for treatment. His injuries are non-life-threatening.

Gardaí subsequently arrested and questioned a man, also aged in his 50s, in relation to the assault. He has since been released without charge, and a file on the matter is being prepared for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The assault happened only a short time before a scheduled visit to the hospital by the health minister.

A spokesperson told the Irish Examiner: "Gardaí responded to report of an alleged assault on Henry Street in Cork City on Sunday 24th August 2025 at approximately 9.30am.

"A man, in his 50s, was taken to the Mercy University Hospital to be treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

"Gardaí arrested a man, in his 50s, at the scene and he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Cork city.

"He has since been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing."