The heartbroken son of a man who died after he was badly assaulted in a sustained attack earlier this week said he “hopes for justice” as his dad “did not deserve to die that way”.
Marcel Kusenda, 47, was pronounced dead yesterday afternoon at Naas General Hospital from injuries he sustained in the serious assault.
He had been in a critical condition in hospital since he was discovered with serious injuries outside a house in the Piercetown area of Newbridge in Kildare on Wednesday morning.
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A major line of inquiry is that Mr Kusenda – who was originally from Slovakia – was targeted in a row which stemmed from an incident at a house.
As Garda investigations continue, Marcel’s grieving son, also named Marcel, has spoken of his immense grief for his dad and his hopes for justice.
Speaking from his home in Slovakia, Marcel Jnr said: “It is very difficult and I don’t know what to do now.
“This hurts so much and my dad just didn’t deserve to die like this. Not in this terrible way.”
He said his dad had lived in Ireland for more than 20 years “and he loved it there”.
Marcel Jnr said he does not know exactly what happened but believes his dad “was attacked two times before he was brought to hospital”.
He added: “I don’t know anything else. I just feel pain and I hope for justice.”
And in a tribute on social media, Marcel Jnr said he hopes his dad “finds his peace”.
He wrote: “My daddy, rest in peace.
“Thank you for everything you have done for me.
“You gave me a lot of advice in life, you helped me a lot in everything you could. I hope you find your peace.
“You are already in heaven together with your father, whom I loved very much as well as you. I love you so much.
“I am very sad for what happened and there is no one human being who deserves to suffer like this. Let’s hope his killer will never leave jail for what he has done.”
Mr Kusenda was given what sources said was a “very severe beating” but investigators do not believe any weapons were used in the attack. Gardai arrested a man in his 30s and he was taken for questioning at Newbridge Garda station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
However, gardai suspect a number of men were involved in the incident. A source said: “The case is likely to be upgraded to a murder investigation.
“It’s all still at a very early stage but what’s known is that he was with a group of people, a row kicked off and a number of people are suspected to be involved in beating him. It was a very severe beating, they kicked the living s**t out of him.”
An incident room has now been established at Newbridge Garda station and an investigation is continuing under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer.
A postmortem will take place and the results will determine what direction it takes.
However, it is believed the inquiry will be upgraded to a murder investigation.
Last night, the man in his 30s who was arrested as part of the investigation remained detained at Newbridge Garda station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. In a statement yesterday, An Garda Siochana said: “The man, aged in his 40s, who was discovered with serious injuries at approximately 10.30am on Wednesday March 8,
2023 outside a residence in the Piercetown area of Newbridge, has been pronounced dead at Naas General Hospital.
“The office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a postmortem examination will be arranged.”
Officers are appealing for anyone with information to contact Newbridge Garda station on 045 440180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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