This article is from page 10 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
GARDAI say they are satisfied that serious head injuries sustained by a man in Lisdoonvarna last week were as a result of a fall.
Jim Kearney (56) was found in an unconscious state on a footpath close to the Square in the town, in the early hours of Monday last. He had been seen leaving a pub in the town a short time earlier.
Mr Kearney, a chef who hails from Wexford, was removed to hospital in Ennis.
He later underwent surgery at Cork University Hospital, where he remained in a critical condition yesterday.
It was initially unclear how he sustained his injuries.
A full garda investigation was conducted last week and a Detective Superintendent was deployed from Galway to work on the investigation.
Clare Chief Superintendent Liam Quinn said it appears Mr Kearney was not the victim of an assault.
“It seems there was nothing to indicate there was any assault. The indications are his injuries were as a result of a fall.
“Our investigations haven’t indicated there was anything suspicious,” he said.
A number of people have been interviewed by gardai, including those who found the Mr Kearney at around 2am, and people who were in his company earlier that night.