Community deeply shocked as Longford dad seriously injured in ‘horrific attack’

Prayers are being said for a young Longford father who was seriously injured as a result of a vicious assault in Mullingar in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The popular businessman, who is well-known in GAA circles and played underage and senior football for Longford Slashers, is critically ill in Beaumont Hospital.

The married man, who is in his early-30s and is originally from Longford town, had been attending a work Christmas party.

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It is understood that as he left for home he intervened to help someone who appeared to be in difficulty in the Grove Street area and the violent assault then took place.

The Longford man suffered serious injuries and he was rushed to Mullingar Hospital at 1.10am and he remained in an induced coma in the Intensive Care Unit over the weekend.

He was subsequently transferred to Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital where he is battling for his life.

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The talented GAA player, also played with St Malachy's GFC Castletown Geoghegan in Co Westmeath and he won their player of the year in recent years.

He had been living with family in the Castletown Geoghegan area of the county.

Prayers were said at mass in St Mel’s Cathedral on Sunday morning and in recent days by family friends and neighbours in Longford town.

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Local Fianna Fáil Cllr Martin Monaghan said people have been deeply shocked by the news and the man and his family are in their thoughts.

"People are absolutely devastated by what has happened," he said. "They are a hard working family in the town who are business people and have contributed to all aspects of society."

Cllr Monaghan said it was horrific for an attack to take place on a young man with a young family at any time, but particularly coming up to Christmas.

Meanwhile, Cllr Seamus Butler said it was a terrible attack that has shocked people across the county.

"At this time of year for a young business person to be assaulted out of the blue on a night out is so terrifying for the family and it is so worrying," he said. "It just shows Ireland is no longer safe and it is now a dangerous place for people," he added
Gardaí said they are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the incident and in recent days they have been trawling through CCTV from the area.

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The scene was sealed off for a technical examination and an incident room was established at Mullingar Garda Station.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

Any persons who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the areas around Grove Street and Mullingar Town centre between 12:30am and 1:30am, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.