Stab victims f ight for their lives after separate incidents in the northwest
TWO men were in intensive care suffering from lifethreatening stab wounds after separate incidents in the northwest of the country.
An elderly man was attacked in his home in north Donegal on Friday night. The other man was assaulted in Sligo yesterday morning.
The victim in the Donegal incident has been named locally as Patrick McLoughlin, who was attacked in his home after a dispute got out of hand.
Mr McLoughlin, who is 73 years old, was stabbed in his house on Convent Road in Carndonagh, on the remote Inishowen peninsula at about 9.30pm on Friday.
Mr McLoughlin suffered life threatening stab wounds during the assault and was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital, across the border in Derry.
He lives alone but it is understood that the incident was not a burglary and that the attacker was known to his victim.
A 33-year-old man was arrested near the scene, with sources indicating that he was covered in blood when gardaí took him into custody.
Gardaí have launched an investigation into the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
In the other incident, a 34-year-old man was left fighting for his life after a serious attack in Sligo town centre yesterday morning.
The man, who has been named locally as Derek Callahan, was found with serious stab wounds to the chest at an apartment complex on Rockwood Parade, beside the Garavogue River, at around 10am yesterday.
Mr Callahan, from Devins Drive in Cranmore on the outskirts of Sligo town, was taken to Sligo Regional Hospital.
There his condition was described as critical and doctors took the decision to have him airlifted to University Hospital Galway where he remains in a serious condition.
Gardaí have sealed off the area at Rockwood Parade and the crime scene has been preserved for a technical examination.
A garda spokesman said: ‘Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact any garda station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.’