Gardaí believe a 49-year-old man found unconscious just off Cork city centre in the early hours of Sunday morning may have fallen and hit his head while walking home from a work night out.
The man was discovered unconscious and with a wound to the back of his head on on Travers Street off Cove Street between Sullivan's Quay and Abbey Street in the south inner city at about 3am.
The alarm was raised and the emergency services attended the man who was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where it’s understood he remains in critical condition.
CCTV footage
The man’s wallet and mobile phone were found on him while he also had no defensive wounds or injury, leading gardaí to believe he may have fallen rather than been the victim of an assault.
Gardaí have established that the man was on a Christmas night out and was returning home to Friar’s Walk where he lives at about 3am when the accident is understood to have happened.
Gardaí have begun examining CCTV footage from the area and have also spoken to neighbours during door-to-door inquiries in a bid to try to establish what exactly happened to the man.
Anyone who can assist gardaí with their inquiries is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda station on 021-452 2000 or the Bridewell Garda station on 021-494 3330 or any Garda station.