A STUDENT who died following a violent assault has been described by his family as a “much-loved, popular young man with a bright future”.
Andrew Dolan (20), from Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, died in Beaumont Hospital at 7.30pm on New Year’s Day having failed to regain consciousness after being assaulted on December 23rd.
An investigation had already been launched into the incident which occurred outside Abrakebabra in Pearse Street, Mullingar, in the early hours of Friday, December 23rd. The assault was captured on CCTV.
Two men, aged 20 and 21, and a 19-year-old woman have been arrested and questioned in relation to the incident.
Mr Dolan was on a night out in Mullingar with his former school friends from Wilson’s Hospital.
Last night his father, Joe Dolan, a well-known hotelier, issued a statement on behalf of himself, his wife, Rosie, and the couple’s two other children, Gavin and Jack.
The family said they were devastated by his death. They said Andrew had been looking forward to a rewarding career in bio-medical science which he had been studying at NUI Galway.
They thanked all those who supported them through their “devastating ordeal” and asked people to remember him in their prayers.
It was the second violent assault in December to affect the local area. Longford man Mark O’Shea (30), who was assaulted in Carrick-on-Shannon on December 18th, remains in a critical condition, also in Beaumont Hospital.
Leitrim-based councillor Gerry Reynolds, who is a friend of the family, said Mr Dolan was well-liked and regarded as the least likely person to become involved in a row.
“He would not hurt a fly,” said Mr Reynolds. There was anger, grief and “total bewilderment” in the town that the young man could meet such a fate. He said it was some comfort to the family that Mr Dolan was an organ donor.
Mr Dolan’s family have been involved in the hotel trade in Carrick-on-Shannon for several generations. They own The Bush Hotel which is the sponsor of the Leitrim senior football team.
Leitrim county board chairman Joe Flynn said the Dolan family were long-time supporters of the GAA even before they came on board as sponsors and he said the association would provide all the support it could to the family.
Mr Dolan is also a former vice-president of the Irish Hotels Federation. Its president, Paul Gallagher, extended his condolences to the family on behalf of the federation.
The chairman of Leitrim County Council, Cllr John McTernan, said the community was devastated for the family.
Andrew’s funeral is due to take place tomorrow at midday in St Mary’s Church, Carrick-on-Shannon, though that may depend on the investigation being carried out into his death.