Gardai seek lead following fatal attack on Chinese man

The parents of a Chinese man, who died after being assaulted in Dublin two weeks ago, are due to return to China with his body this morning. Gardaí concede they are no closer to establishing who attacked him.

Mr Chen Li Ming (22), died in Beaumont Hospital on October 11th, two days after the assault.

According to Supt John Manley of Crumlin Garda, Mr Chen was last seen before the assault at an Internet cafe in Dún Laoghaire at about 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9th.

"Then he went off in the company of three Chinese men. The next time we know he was seen was at about 3.40 a.m., by a passer-by at Lorcan O'Toole Park in Kimmage Road West," he said.

It is understood Mr Chen was staggering and holding a sweater to his head, which was bleeding."The next time he was seen was when he knocked on the door of a house on Captain's Road in Crumlin, at about 4.50 a.m. The man of the house was up watching telly and I think a light in the porch attracted him."

Mr Chen is said to have collapsed on the doorstep, his head still bleeding badly. Ambulance services and gardaí were called.

"His English was bad, but he did indicate that he had been at a party and that he had been assaulted as he left," said Supt Manley. He was brought initially to St James's Hospital before being transferred to Beaumont, where he died on October 11th.

Although gardaí have interviewed some of Mr Chen's friends, none has been able to give information about who might have carried out the assault, nor has any taxi-driver who may have brought Mr Chen from Dún Laoghaire to Crumlin responded to requests for information.

Gardaí have made appeals through Chinese-language newspapers and have carried out house-to-house inquiries around Crumlin and Kimmage, but to no avail. Supt Manley said gardaí still had no idea either where the party was or who the three men with Mr Chen in Dún Laoghaire were.

"We are appealing for anyone in the Chinese community with information to come forward," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garda in Crumlin at 01-666 6200.