Gardaí have arrested a 44-year-old man for questioning about a serious assault on New Year’s Day in which a man was hit in the head with a bottle.
Gardaí learned of the attack when they responded to a call from a tenant in a house in Magazine Road on Cork’s southside around 4.45pm who told them that another tenant had been injured.
Officers found the injured man (59) in a bedroom with a towel, trying to staunch a wound to his head from which he was bleeding profusely, having been struck with a bottle.
Gardaí helped treat the injured man until HSE paramedics arrived, and he was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment.
The man underwent emergency surgery and several blood transfusions, and it is understood that he is now in a serious but stable condition.
It is understood that a number of men living in the rented accommodation had been drinking on New Year’s Day when a row broke out and one man hit the victim with a bottle.
Gardaí arrested a man at the scene for a public order offence.
The man was brought to Togher Garda station where gardaí began questioning him about the serious assault on his fellow tenant.
He is now being detained at Togher under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to 24 hours before they have to be charged or released.
Garda technical experts carried out a forensic examination of the scene of the assault in the rented house and gardaí have also taken witness statements from other tenants.
They have appealed to the public for assistance and are particularly anxious to speak to anyone who may have been in the area between 4pm and 5pm on New Year’s Day.
They are particularly anxious to speak to anyone who noticed anything suspicious or overheard a dispute or disturbance in the area. Anyone with information should contact Togher Garda station on 021-4947120.
