An attack in Limerick on a senior health board employee, who was doused in petrol and set alight, is not linked to his work with the mental heath services, Garda sources said last night.
Mr Tom Hourigan - senior manager of mental health services with the Mid-Western Health Board - was in a critical but stable condition in Cork University Hospital last night where he is being treated for serious burns to his face and hands.
Mr Hourigan (51) was getting out of his car at his home in Meadowvale, Raheen, when a masked man threw petrol over him and then set it alight.
His distraught wife and teenage son witnessed the ordeal which happened shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday night in the quiet cul-de-sac.
Gardaí remained baffled last night as to a motive for the petrol attack but sources have denied that it is linked in any way to Mr Hourigan's work with the mental health service.
"We have to explore all possibilities but there is nothing to suggest that it is linked to Mr Hourigan's work," said Inspector Joe Roe, Roxboro Garda Station. "This is an extensive wide-ranging investigation and we are remaining totally open minded. We have spoken to Mr Hourigan briefly but we would hope to speak to him at length again."
Mrs Hourigan said last night: "This is a very difficult time for the family and we are greatly upset by the tragedy that Tom has been through."
It is understood that Mr Hourigan was attacked minutes after he pulled up to his home at Meadowvale in his dark blue Mercedes at 9.15 p.m. on Thursday night.
Before Mr Hourigan could get out of his car a youth wearing a balaclava approached the car and threw petrol on it before setting it alight, seriously injuring Mr Hourigan and destroying the interior of his car.
He was rushed immediately to Limerick Regional Hospital but transferred to Cork shortly after midnight for surgery on his hands and face, which were badly burned.
Mid-Western Health Board chief executive officer, Mr Stiofáin de Búrca, described the family as "quite traumatised".
Mr de Búrca also said he would be appalled if it transpired that the attack was linked to Mr O'Sullivan's job with the health board.
"It's totally beyond all reason and it has caused tremendous trauma throughout the whole healthcare system," he said.
Health board chairman Mr Seán Hillary called for immediate action by the gardaí.
"This needs immediate and very serious action from the gardaí and I'm sure it will get it. The sooner they find out the reasons for why it happened the better.
"It is definitely the most frightening experience I've had in my life and certainly as chairman of the health board," he said.
Major house-to-house inquires were underway in the Meadowvale area of Raheen yesterday where locals were trying to come to terms with the attack.
"We are all naturally shocked. There was a big commotion and a lot of activity but we really did not know what happened," said one resident.
Meanwhile, gardaí are examining CCTV footage from a number of garages in the area in an effort to see if the attacker bought petrol earlier that night locally.
They are also searching for the container used to carry the petrol.