Drug dealer fights for life after beating

A 24-year-old man is fighting for his life today after he was savagely assaulted and left for dead at the Grand Canal.
Convicted drug dealer Wayne King remains in an induced coma at the Mater Hospital where he is being treated for severe head injuries and knife lacerations.
Lured
The low-level criminal, who is originally from Dorset Street, was set upon by a gang of men at the rear of Shandon Park, Phibsboro, on Monday afternoon.
Gardai believe that the victim, who is currently living in the Finglas area, was lured to the remote location and violently set upon by a group of thugs.
Sources say that he is well known to gardai for minor offences related to drugs.
His most serious conviction dates from 2006, when he was fined €1,750 for possession of heroin for sale or supply in Phibsboro a year earlier.
Gardai are probing whether he was targeted over a small drugs debt. A full technical examination took place at the scene at waste ground on the bank of the Royal Canal at the rear of Shandon Park.
Bush
Officers brought Mr King to hospital after he was found shortly after 3.30pm on Monday.
Minutes earlier a passer-by had discovered Mr King lying in a bramble bush, at the rear of St Finbarr's GAA club.
Apart from severe head injuries, the victim had a broken nose and a broken arm as well as multiple cuts to his legs, body and head.
"This was a very savage assault and gardai are appealing for witnesses," said a source.

More Priory Hall misery as vomiting bug hits hotel

DISPLACED Priory Hall residents staying in a north Dublin hotel have been hit by a winter vomiting bug due to a suspected contamination of water, it emerged today.
Distraught families spoke of how they have been forced to live without tap water and heating due to an outbreak at the Regency Hotel in north Dublin.
An upset Martyna Imiela (24) and her son Liam (4), who were moved to the hotel after the Priory Hall apartments were deemed a fire trap, were struck by the bug at the weekend.
"It's been an absolute disaster. The management doesn't appear to know what has caused the bug. I was getting sick all Saturday and Sunday after drinking the water. They're now giving us bottled water and have closed the bar and restaurant. Imagine what it is like to look after a four year old boy with no proper water."
PROBLEM
The working mum, who has been living in the hotel since October 19, is desperate for a resolution to the problem so she can enjoy some sort of Christmas with her son.

"This has been hell. We have had no heating during parts of the day on top of having no water," she claimed. "We just want to have a normal Christmas -- are we not entitled to that? We miss our home, we miss our friends, the last few weeks have been horrible."
The hotel received between 50-100 calls from people who had dined there last week complaining of becoming ill. It is understood that a number of complaints have also been lodged with the HSE.
Des Hennell, from Co Wexford, is staying at the hotel while he receives chemotherapy.
He told the Herald today that he is "furious" with the hotel -- having booked in for two days.
"I arrived and they said nothing about people getting sick or a contamination of water or anything like that," he claimed.
"I'm furious and I am refusing to pay because nobody should be staying in a hotel without proper facilities. It's an absolute disgrace that they didn't tell me before I checked in."
Hotel management today refused to comment when contacted by the Herald about the claims that heating wasn't on for parts of the day.
Last night, hotelier John Glynn said they intended to be back in full operation as soon as possible after contract chemical cleaning firm ISS was hired to work "around-the-clock" to decontaminate the premises.
"They are doing a complete blitz and I am waiting for a result back from the laboratories," the general manager of the hotel said.
Mr Glynn said he had experienced outbreaks in the trade previously but this was the "single biggest one" he had encountered. He added it was being treated seriously and all food and beverage operations ceased on Monday and functions were cancelled until the premises was fully decontaminated.
Up to 100 people have reported feeling ill after attending the hotel during an extremely busy week with cabaret dinners and Christmas functions.
OUTBREAK
Mr Glynn stressed investigations were underway into the cause of the outbreak but it would "appear it was a winter bug". The infectious norovirus bug can cause gastro-upset and vomiting.
Mr Glynn said he felt for customers and the 200 staff on the payroll who were "depending on the income this week to ensure Santa Clause for their kids and to pay their mortgages".
The HSE Department of Public Health confirmed it is currently investigating the outbreak. Initially, around four people reported to the hotel that they felt ill on Thursday and an inspector from the HSE visited the hotel.
Further complaints were received over the weekend and hotel management met with the HSE on Monday.
Samples of water, food, ice and from staff were taken to attempt to identify the source.

Leinster boys show lads how to do Christmas shopping

LEINSTER heroes Sean O'Brien and Gordon D'Arcy show lads how to do the Christmas shopping.
Essentially, go to the pub and let your lady do it.
Ahead of their game against Bath on Saturday night, the "Tullow Tank" and "Darce" opened the new "Man Creche" at the reputable Exchequer Bar in central Dublin.
Leinster star Gordon is one of the venue's investors.
Here, tortured guys can avoid being dragged around the shops and be treated to wall-to-wall sports, a copy of the Herald, magazines free wifi and seasonal food as they look after the shopping bags for their wives and girlfriends.
Marketing manager Gordon Campbell reveals: "We saw it happening, the women were leaving the lads here and going off shopping," he said.
"The guys are not really interested in shopping anyway," he said. "I know it's very sexist, very stereotypical but it's true. So we developed it further.
"We run a €15 special which involves a pint and fish and chips or a steak sambo.
"We had Sky News on but saw that the lads were more interested in Sky Sports. We bought in good quality magazines and papers -- things to entertain them while they wait," he told the Herald.
scrums
And guys aren't the only ones to benefit. Hard-working women shoppers receive a complimentary glass of prosecco when they return to collect their other half.
"We realised the women were doing all the hard stuff. So we decided to give them a nice glass of prosecco which is worth as much as €7.80 a glass," he said.
So will Ireland and Leinster ace Gordon be using the creche himself? Of course.
As his fiance Aoife Cogan gets ready shopping for their big day, "Darce" will be checking the place out.
"Aoife is always in with us, she's so lovely. We look after all the guys in whatever way we can," Mr Campbell said.
"We are very lucky to have Gordon on board and he brought Sean O'Brien, the European player of the year, in to us which was a great honour. "
The Exchequer is located close to Grafton Street.