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This is Paul Newtown, the Connacht rugby fan who was today fighting for his life in a Belfast hospital after being attacked on a night out after watching his team play.
The 43-year-old Sligo businessman was severely beaten and suffered serious head and facial injuries during the assault early on Saturday morning.
Mr Newton, a father of two from Sligo, is critically ill after the attack in the city centre and is being treated in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The Connacht supporter was in the capital for the Magners League match against Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday night.
His friend Shane O'Meara said the attack came as a shock.
"It's such a mystery - he's a larger-than-life character, he's 6ft 5in and still actively involved in sport," he said.
"Whoever attacked him would have been a fairly powerful man to cause such injuries," he told the BBC.
Mr Newton was set upon outside his hotel in Bradbury Place.
Police believe the attack took place between 3.30am and 3.45am on Saturday.
Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Bradbury Place/Shaftesbury Square area around the time of the attack and witnessed the assault or any suspicious behaviour to contact them.
Detectives are particularly keen to talk to two women who they believe may have been in the area when the assault occurred.
Mr Newton is a well known businessman in Co Sligo and a former GAA star.
The Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers, said: "It is disgusting and despicable and I don't care whether it is a local person or a visitor.
"He came here to enjoy a rugby game and the way he was left just sickens and disgusts me."
Mr Newton, a father of two and former GAA county player, was being treated in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where his condition was today described as critical.
His friend Shane O'Meara said the attack came as a shock.
"It's such a mystery - he's a larger-than-life character, he's 6ft 5in and still actively involved in sport," he said.
"Whoever attacked him would have been a fairly powerful man to cause such injuries," he said.
Mr Newton was set upon outside his hotel in Bradbury Place. Police believe the attack took place between 3.30am and 3.45am on Saturday.
Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Bradbury Place/Shaftesbury Square area around the time of the attack and witnessed the assault or any suspicious behaviour to contact them.
Detectives are particularly keen to talk to two women who they believe may have been in the area when the assault occurred.
The Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers, said: "It is disgusting and despicable and I don't care whether it is a local person or a visitor. He came here to enjoy a rugby game and the way he was left just sickens and disgusts me."
The 43-year-old Sligo businessman was vicioulsy beaten and suffered serious head and facial injuries during the assault early on Saturday morning hours after his team's Magner's League clash with Ulster at Ravenhill.
Mr Newton, a father of two and former GAA county player, was being treated in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where his condition was today described as critical.
His friend Shane O'Meara said the attack came as a shock.
"It's such a mystery - he's a larger-than-life character, he's 6ft 5in and still actively involved in sport," he said.
"Whoever attacked him would have been a fairly powerful man to cause such injuries," he said.
Mr Newton was set upon outside his hotel in Bradbury Place. Police believe the attack took place between 3.30am and 3.45am on Saturday.
Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Bradbury Place/Shaftesbury Square area around the time of the attack and witnessed the assault or any suspicious behaviour to contact them.
Detectives are particularly keen to talk to two women who they believe may have been in the area when the assault occurred.
The Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers, said: "It is disgusting and despicable and I don't care whether it is a local person or a visitor. He came here to enjoy a rugby game and the way he was left just sickens and disgusts me."
