GARDAÍ IN Co Clare have released without charge a man they had been questioning in connection with a stabbing incident in Ennis on Thursday morning which left another man fighting for his life.
The suspect (36) was detained early on Friday and taken to Ennis Garda station for questioning.
He was questioned about the stabbing during which a 24-year- old man sustained seven wounds, including a gash across his abdomen which left part of his intestine protruding.
The suspect has since been released without charge while gardaí prepare a file for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This will decide whether a prosecution should be taken in respect of the attack.
The victim was taken off life-support and moved from the intensive care unit at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, in Limerick on Friday morning after surgeons had battled for several hours to save him.
He continues to undergo treatment but is no longer on the critical list.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning in the front garden of a house at Waterpark Heights in Drumbiggle, of Ennis.
It is understood that an individual, with whom the victim is acquainted, arrived at the victim’s home and the pair exchanged words. In the course of the row, a knife was produced and the victim was stabbed seven times, sustaining six wounds to his back and one to his abdomen.
The injured and heavily bleeding man staggered to a neighbour’s house for help. After the alarm was raised, gardaí arrived at the scene within minutes.
The attacker, however, had already fled on foot.
A knife was recovered at the scene and is being technically examined.
The victim was rushed to the Dooradoyle hospital in Limerick where he underwent emergency surgery. He was later placed on a ventilator and moved to the intensive care unit.
He sustained serious internal injuries, including a collapsed lung.
According to one local, “part of his gut” was hanging from the belly wound.
Gardaí are continuing their investigation into the incident.