Murder inquiry into Irishman’s UK death

POLICE in Birmingham have launched a murder inquiry into the death of an Irish man after an attack last month.

Phillip Leonard, 34, understood to be from Louth, was found unconscious in the city on July 28 and died from his wounds last Monday. Police said he died as a result of head injuries.

Yesterday, a police spokeswoman confirmed that a man is in custody and has been charged with wounding. The man, Daniel Fitzpatrick, 26, is also Irish, and police said that the two were known to each other.

Mr Leonard was found at around 1.30am on a Birmingham city centre street and taken to hospital.

West Midlands police are appealing for information and for any witnesses to come forward. Detective Inspector Ian Illiffe said: ‘Following the sad death of Phillip, this is now a murder investigation.

‘His injuries were consistent with being attacked and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen what happened in the early hours of July 28.’