A man attacked on a Dublin street last month has died from his injuries in a hospital in the city.
Liam McGowan (22), Kinlough, Co Leitrim, died at 1.30am yesterday at Beaumont Hospital where he had been on a life-support machine since the attack just over three weeks ago.
Mr McGowan, who worked for a Dublin insurance company, was discovered lying on the street unconscious at the junction of Hardwicke Street and Frederick Court in the north inner city at 2.15am on Sunday, August 20th.
Gardaí believe he was set upon by two men who stole €40 in cash and a mobile phone from him. Mr McGowan sustained serious head injuries during the attack.
He was taken to the Mater hospital and was later transferred to Beaumont. However, he never regained consciousness and had been on a life support machine until his death early yesterday.
Mr McGowan had been socialising with friends on the night of Saturday August 19th into the early hours of Sunday. He was returning to his apartment when he was attacked. He had recently moved to Dublin after graduating with a commerce degree from NUI Galway.
Michael McGowan, former headmaster of De La Salle College, Ballyshannon, where he had attended, described him as an intelligent, well-liked young man. "Liam was a lovely, lovely fellow. It's so sad that his life has been taken from him, so sad."
Kinlough parish priest Fr Thomas Keoghan said while many people believed Mr McGowan would not make a full recovery, they had "prayed for a miracle".
"No matter what justice is dispensed as a result of his death, nothing will return him to his family. His life cannot be brought back. His death brings home, sadly, the terrible violence in our society and the lack of respect for human life.
"The sympathy of the entire community goes to Liam's parents and his two brothers. It's been a very difficult few weeks for them. People felt it was inevitable that he wasn't going to make a recovery," Fr Keoghan said.
"In a strange way there is a sense of relief for the family and the community. No doubt Liam is himself happy now."
While grief at the violent death was felt throughout the community there was no public display of outrage, "but I'm sure beneath the surface there is anger".
Two men, aged 22 and 23, from Cabra and Dominick Street in the inner city, have already appeared before Dublin District Court. They were charged before Judge Cormac Dunne last Thursday with assault causing serious harm. Both are due to appear before the courts again tomorrow.
Garda sources said the DPP would be consulted on any additional charges.