Over €100,000 has been raised for a special fund to support the family of a Lithuanian man who was left in a vegetative state after an assault in Dublin.
Vytautas Sukys (50) was attacked by three youths while walking with another Lithuanian man along the Royal Canal in September, 2004. He received a blow to the head and fell to the ground, where he was kicked in the head and face at least eight times.
Three men have been jailed for terms ranging from three to seven years for their part in the attack.
Mr Sukys, who has been in Ireland since October 2003, now lives in a nursing home in Swords in north county Dublin. He has difficulty speaking, walking and suffers seizures following the brain injuries.
Mr Sukys's wife came to Ireland to be with her husband following the assault.
The fund opened three weeks ago, following a report about Mr Sukys on RTÉ's News. Since the fund was set up at the EBS in Phibsborough, thousands of donations have been received, ranging from a few euro to €1,000.
Det Insp Colm Fox said the public reaction to the fund set up in the EBS in Phibsborough had been phenomenal. "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the public in coming forward the way they have done on both occasions, both as witnesses to the assault, and contributors to the financial appeal," Det Insp Fox said. Det Insp Fox, who said Mr Sukys was left in a coma for five months following the attack, added: "It is horrific - it is the worst that I've ever seen. I'd have seen a lot of assaults, but this is the worst on someone who has survived."
The account details in the EBS office in Phibsboro are: Vytas Sukys Fund, Account No 39993442.