Two men critically injured in separate Cork assaults

Gardaí in Cork are hoping CCTV footage will help clarify what exactly happened to a 40-year-old homeless man who ended up in a critical condition after an incident in the city centre on Thursday night.

The man was taken by ambulance to the Mercy University Hospital after collapsing on Patrick Street following an altercation during a soup delivery by those working with the homeless in the city.

It’s understood that the man became involved in a physical exchange with another person on Patrick Street at around 9.15pm and he collapsed a short time later.

The man, who is originally from Mayfield on Cork's northside but has been staying at St Vincent's Hostel off Anglesea Street, remained in a coma on Friday evening at the Mercy University Hospital, where his condition was described as "critical".

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Gardaí cordoned off the scene of the incident and Garda technical experts carried out a forensic examination, while gardaí have also begun harvesting CCTV footage, which they hope will show the incident.

Detectives spoke to those who avail of soup delivery services to see if any of them witnessed the incident or can shed any light on what happened the injured party.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, gardaí are to prepare a file for the DPP after releasing without charge a 20-year-old student arrested for questioning about an assault on a 19-year-old student in Cork city centre.

The assault happened on the Grand Parade at around 12.15am on Friday when the student suffered serious injuries. Gardaí were quickly on the scene and made an arrest.

The suspect was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows detention up to 24 hours, and taken to Mayfield Garda station where the man was questioned for several hours before being released without charge.

Meanwhile, the victim of the assault was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he his condition on Friday evening was said to be stable.