Limerick Health board official critical but stable

A Mid-Western Health Board official who was injured in a petrol bomb attack in Limerick city last night remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Mr Tom Hourigan (51) was attacked as he sat in his car in the driveway of his home in Meadowvale in the Raheen estate in the western suburbs of the city at 9.30 p.m.

The Mercedes car at Meadowvale, Limerick where Midwestern Health Board official Tom Hourigan suffered severe burns.

It is understood Mr Hourigan, who is the assistant chief executive officer with the MWHB, was in his car when at least one person approached before pouring petrol over the vehicle and igniting it.

Mr Hourigan was taken to Limerick Regional Hospital for treatment to burns to his hands, arms and face, before being transferred to the Burns Unit of Cork University Hospital for surgery.

A Garda spokeswoman said Mr Hourigan is now in a critical condition in intensive care.

She said gardaí are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.

Mr John Cregan, Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick West, called on anyone who had details of "this terrible crime" to contact the gardaí."This brutal and cowardly attack . . . is an awful indictment of society and those responsible must be caught".

Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr Simon Coveney TD, said the attack shows the Government is failing to tackle the high level of violent crime.

"This attack reinforces yet again what a violent society we live in," he said. "Clearly theJustice Minister needs to show more leadership in curbing vicious and violentassault."