GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING an assault which has left a 23-year-old UN peacekeeper fighting for his life in a Cork hospital are seeking to establish whether it may have been linked to an earlier attack on the young man.
Graham Gillman, from Raheen Park, Youghal, Co Cork, was seriously injured when he was assaulted by a number of men in a pub in the town some time between 12.30am and 12.40am on Saturday night-Sunday morning.
Gardaí believe Mr Gillman was approached by at least two men at the smoking area at the rear of The Usual Place pub on South Main Street, and that a confrontation took place in which Mr Gillman was struck on the head and knocked unconscious.
It is understood Mr Gillman, a soldier attached to Collins Barracks in Cork who had served with the Irish UN mission in Chad, regained consciousness briefly before again lapsing into unconsciousness. He was taken to Cork University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery on Sunday morning. A hospital spokesman yesterday described his condition as critical.
Gardaí, under Supt Flor Horan and Det Insp Brian Goulding, began an investigation and the scene of the assault at the rear of the pub was forensically examined by Garda technical experts on Sunday morning.
Gardaí are trying to establish whether the assault on Mr Gillman is related to another incident in the town on the previous weekend when Mr Gillman was attacked and received a minor stab wound to the neck.
It is understood there were up to 30 people in the smoking area of the pub at the time of the assault.
Gardaí have taken witness statements from many of them, and have also begun checking CCTV footage.
Supt Horan appealed to anyone who may have been in the pub at the time to contact Youghal Garda station on 024-92200.