Funds drive to bring home assault victim from Sydney

THE FAMILY of a young Cork man who was attacked in Australia three weeks ago has begun a fundraising appeal to help bring him home.

David Keohane (29) was badly beaten near his apartment at Coogee in Sydney on August 9th as he returned from a friend's party. He remains in a coma.

He received severe head injuries and it took two days to identify him following the attack. His injuries were so bad that at first police thought he had been slashed with a knife. He has since had facial reconstruction surgery.

David had returned from a visit to his family in Cork a few days earlier and had sent his mother a text earlier that night to say he was having a great time at the party.

Police have identified two of his attackers using CCTV footage and have appealed for them to come forward. David worked as a floor contractor, a lifeline counsellor and volunteered with under- privileged children.

A fundraising night has been organised by his family and friends in Cork to pay for the costs of bringing him home and caring for him in the long term.

The event at the Commons Inn Hotel, in Cork on Saturday, September 20th, at 8pm will feature music, entertainment and spot prizes.

An event for David was held in Sydney earlier this week.

The family welcomes donations to the David Keohane Recovery Fund account at Ulster Bank with sort code 98-54-88 and account number 10152307.