A LIMERICK man was subjected to a violent knife attack and his home was set on fire after offering assistance to a woman and young baby.
Brian Gleeson (30), originally from North Circular Road, Limerick, suffered injuries to his leg, face and abdomen in an unprovoked attack at his home on Mary Street in Limerick shortly before 2am yesterday.
Mr Gleeson was disturbed after hearing a commotion across the road where a group of people, including a woman and baby, were trying to get into a house.
Gardaí believe one of the women may have needed to tend to the infant and that Mr Gleeson had offered assistance, whereupon he was later brutally attacked in his home.
Detectives are still trying to establish the sequence of events but gardaí believe Mr Gleeson was stabbed repeatedly when another man arrived at the scene and entered his home.
A couch in the sitting room of the house was also set alight before the culprits left the scene.
Mr Gleeson was discovered unconscious outside his home at 1.45am by the emergency services, which had been alerted about the fire which caused extensive damage to the house.
Mr Gleeson suffered a number of injuries including one serious stab wound to his stomach.
He was recovering at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where he underwent surgery yesterday.
A hospital spokesman described his condition as stable.
The suspects, who are known to gardaí, live in nearby housing estates and all three are said to be heroin addicts.
A 22-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon and was being held at Henry Street Garda station last night on suspicion of assault causing serious harm.
A woman in her 20s was also arrested yesterday and she was being detained at Roxboro Garda station on suspicion of withholding information.
Garda Supt Frank O’Brien of Henry Street station has appealed for witnesses to come forward so those responsible could be brought to justice.
“This was a very serious incident and a large amount of resources have been deployed to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Supt O’Brien said.
“We wish the victim a speedy recovery and we would appeal for any witnesses to contact the gardaí, which they can do in confidence”.
Mr Gleeson, he added, had never come to the attention of the Garda and was not known to his assailants.