Groom 'Left for Dead' After Being Attacked During Bachelor Party
A man from Northern Ireland visiting Liverpool in England for his bachelor party was left fighting for his life after being attacked alongside several of his friends in the city's center.
Martin Cunningham, a 24-year-old father of one from Keady, County Armagh, was attacked in Liverpool alongside several of his friends at around 1:00 a.m. on August 14.
The incident occurred while Cunningham was out in the city celebrating his upcoming wedding, according to a statement from Merseyside Police that was shared with Newsweek.
Cunningham's friends who were with him during the incident told The Liverpool Echo that he was "left for dead" by the alleged attackers, while they called both the police and paramedics for help, with the former providing first aid when waiting for the latter to arrive.
The emergency services then took Cunningham to the nearby Aintree Hospital where he was treated for serious head injuries, including a fractured skull, before he was released from the medical center on Friday and left England on Monday, a week after he was admitted.
Merseyside Police told Newsweek that seven people were arrested on Sunday in connection to the attack, with a 40-year-old man from Pontypridd, Wales, detained on suspicion of assault and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The six other men, also from Wales, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs after a substance suspected to be cocaine was found in a hotel room searched by the authorities.
The men have since been released under investigation as "inquiries are continuing" into the attack, the police statement said.
Francis Fullerton, a friend of Cunningham, has set up a recovery fund on Crowdfunder where he is hoping to raise £10,000 ($13,703) so the victim's family can "rebuild their dream."
By Wednesday afternoon, £9,850 had already been raised from 315 supporters, with 19 days still left of the campaign.
Fullerton wrote in the description of the fundraiser that "although making good progress Marty needs our help with our continuing prayers and Marty and his family also need your help to make provision for the absolute necessities of living.
"So please whatever you can afford no matter how little, it will be very much appreciated by this young family to rebuild their dream."
Merseyside Police are still looking for further information about the incident, with Detective Chief Inspector Paul Parry saying that "we'd still like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any CCTV, dashcam or other information."
