A thug who viciously beat a prisoner “danced” on his victim’s body after the horrific attack which has left him fighting for his life.
Robert O’Connor remained in critical condition at Dublin’s Mater Hospital last night after he suffered severe injuries including a bleed on his brain. The 34-year-old, from Darndale in North Dublin, was targeted by up to four assailants who left him for dead in a cell on the C2 landing of Mountjoy Prison on Friday evening.
Last night a source said: “His condition has not improved since being brought into hospital. He’s still in intensive care but it doesn’t look good for him.”
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A major probe into the incident is continuing with prison staff and inmates set to be interviewed while CCTV is also being examined. One source revealed information has been uncovered to suggest one of the attackers involved “danced on the man” as he lay unconscious.
The source added: “These are the types of characters you are dealing with here.” Of the suspects identified, one is linked to the Kinahan mob while another is serving a lengthy sentence for an aggravated burglary.
A number of inmates now face questioning by detectives investigating the assault, which may be upgraded to murder if O’Connor loses his fight for life. Gardai suspect he was targeted on the orders of someone outside. One theory is he was attacked to avenge an assault, while another is that it may have been to do with a drug debt.
O’Connor had only been jailed two days before the attack for six-and-a-half years after admitting to the possession of a semi-automatic pistol in Finglas, Dublin, last October. It is understood he told prison bosses he felt safe inside just hours before he was assaulted.
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