Gardaí hope they can today interview a man who suffered serious burn injuries in a horrific attack in Limerick at the weekend.
The 35-year-old Polish man, who lives and works in Co Tipperary, suffered injuries to his face and hands when a flammable liquid was thrown on him and set alight in the early hours of Sunday.
Gardaí believe the victim, who had recently returned to Ireland from a visit home, was alone when he was attacked while walking to a friend's house in the Fr Russell Road area of Limerick at about 2am.
Investigating officers have not established the exact location of the attack but they are anxious to speak to any potential witnesses who were in the Dock Road and Fr Russell Road areas about the time of the attack.
Gardaí did not release the man's name but said he was wearing blue jeans and a black jacket with distinctive logos on the back.
He left the house he was staying in at 7.30pm on Saturday to socialise in Limerick city and was not seen again by the family he was staying with until after 2am, when he arrived home with burn injuries.
It is understood he told his friends that somebody had thrown a liquid on him, which was set alight.
Gardaí have taken possession of the man's clothes, which were being examined yesterday by technical experts, but they have as yet been unable to speak to the victim who was under sedation yesterday at the specialist burns unit of Cork University Hospital.
His injuries were described by the hospital as serious but not life-threatening.
"Until such time as we can talk to the victim, we really have a blank canvas to a large degree," said Supt Frank O'Brien, who is leading the investigation.
"Our appeal is to anyone who was with him or who may have met him that night to contact us and help us to piece together this jigsaw."
Pat O'Sullivan, president of the Irish Polish Cultural and Business Association, expressed outrage at the attack, which he does not believe was racially motivated.
"I think it would be incredible if this was the case and I'd be amazed if this was a racist attack. It was a horrific attack to happen to any human being and I would urge everybody to assist the gardaí with their inquires," Mr O'Sullivan said.
Some 10,000 Polish people live in the midwest region. A Polish health centre was recently opened in Limerick city centre to serve the large Polish community living in the area.
