Liam “Gingee” Higgins, (55), was assaulted by a number of people at Athlunkard Street, Limerick, on March 17th last.
He died at UHL last night surrounded by his family who had said their last goodbyes to him over the last few days.
Three men are currently before the courts charged in connection with the assault in the father of four.
Liam “Gingee” Higgins (Rip.ie)
Today’s News in 90 Seconds, Thursday March 26
At a hearing of one of the accused men, Limerick District Court heard that Mr Higgins allegedly stabbed the accused first and was then allegedly attacked by this man and others.
CCTV footage at the scene was played in the court showing a traffic bollard being thrown at Mr Higgins knocking him to the ground unconscious and a number of people stamping on his head with their feet and his head being struck with a traffic cone.
Mr Higgins was assaulted on the 8th anniversary of his son Jamie Higgins’s death who was killed in a completely unrelated stabbing incident, at a nightclub at Shannon, Co Clare, on St Patrick’s Day night, 2018.
Gardaí investigating the assault on Liam Higgins said the state pathologist would conduct a post-mortem on his body today.
The results of the post-mortem will likely determine the course of the garda investigation into the assault on the father of four.
An obituary notice published online said: “Liam’s family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of the A&E and ICU of University Hospital Limerick for their exceptional care and support.”
Mr Higgins, of Mungret, Co. Limerick and late of Ryan’s Cottages and O’Malley Park, died “surrounded by his family”, the notice said.
The obituary notice said Mr Higgins was pre-deceased by his son Jamie and father Jim (Seamus), and he “is very deeply regretted by his mother Anne, wife Sharon, sons Calvin and Scott, daughter Leanne, grandchildren, siblings, relatives and friends”.
The Higgins family requested “House private please” with funeral arrangements to follow later on.
Speaking as her husband lay in hospital fighting for his life, Mr Higgins’ wife, Sharon Higgins, said their family had been told by staff to say their final goodbyes to Mr Higgins.
“I have to go through all of this again now, like I buried my son, I have to bury my husband the same way,” said Ms Higgins.
“I am horrified about it, I feel there is nothing left of me to be honest. I don’t know anymore, I am just a shell now, there is nothing left of me, this is too much to handle.
“I am not able to bury another [family member]. It’s the same thing again, I have cried so much. It’s too much to handle and take on.”