Published: Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 5:00pm

Bitten in brutal attack in Virginia

by Michael Cryan

The facial injury Patrick Cusack sustained when he was assaulted at Main Street, Virginia, on Sunday evening.
Pic by==: 97

Gardaí in Bailieboro have launched an investigation into a vicious assault on Main Street, Virginia last Sunday evening in which a 47-year-old Shercock man sustained a serious facial wound after he was kicked and bitten, while on the ground.

The attack occurred at approximately 6.50pm as Patrick Cusack, who is a former garda, was dropping his 18-year-old daughter Kerrie Ann off to catch her regular bus back to college in Enniskillen, where she is taking equine studies. They were accompanied by Mr. Cusack's partner Julie and their two-year-old Alanna.

Speaking to The Anglo-Celt on Monday, Mr. Cusack said they were parked at the bus stop waiting for the bus when they observed a man approaching. As Kerrie Ann was getting out of the jeep, the man proceeded to urinate in front of her. She asked him to go away but he started shouting obscenities at her and slammed the door in her face.

"I got out of the vehicle and asked him to go away and behave or go down an alley way." The man, whom Patrick believes was in his 30s, turned on him with a barrage of punches while screaming: "I'm going to kill you and your daughter."

Mr. Cusack who is 6' 1" and 19 stone fell to his knees and was kicked to the side of the head. The man then jumped onto Mr. Cusack and bit him on the forehead. The man sank his teeth in so far that there was blood pouring down Mr. Cusack's face. "My partner had rang 999 looking for the gardaí, while Kerrie Ann had run to the nearby garda station." Luckily, there was a young garda on duty in the station and he came to their assistance.

Garda Phil McGarry wrestled the man off Mr. Cusack and together they tried to restrain the attacker. "However, Garda McGarry had to use mace spray in order to get the man handcuffed," said Mr. Cusack.

What astounded Mr. Cusack was the fact that when they found themselves on the ground with the assailant in handcuffs, several grown men and women became very threatening. "They were like hyenas coming at us and not one offered to help us."

Mr. Cusack claimed that one person became very threatening and kicked the garda in the back as he knelt on the ground. The crowd then began jeering Julie and his two-year-old daughter who were crying. "It was most horrific," said Mr. Cusack whose father was a former garda sergeant for many years.

Eventually two garda cars from Bailieboro came to their rescue and arrested the two thugs and dispersed the crowd. "I was never so glad to see two squad cars arrive in my life," said Mr. Cusack. The two thugs were taken to Bailieboro Garda Station, he added. "I was in a bad way afterwards and was brought to the A&E in Cavan General Hospital where I was treated for my injuries," said the victim.

Mr. Cusack, who is on an invalidity pension for a chronic heart condition, had to give blood to be tested for Hepatitis as well as receive a tetanus injection. "I suffer from a heart condition and this doesn't help matters," he told The Anglo-Celt after his ordeal.

He paid tribute to Garda McGarry in Virginia who came to his assistance and added: "I must commend him for his bravery in rescuing me and my family." Concluding, Mr. Cusack said: "What is our country coming to when people behave like this?"

Local County Councillor Paddy O'Reilly said he very much regretted the attack on Mr. Cusack in Virginia. "Unfortunately there are thugs in our society that have nothing better to do than attack innocent people going about their business." Cllr. O'Reilly hoped Mr. Cusack and his family recovered from their ordeal and that the gardaí bring those responsible before the courts and were dealt with severely.

A Bailieboro garda spokesman confirmed that two men were arrested in connection with the incident and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

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