A night out celebrating turned into a nightmare when a NUI Galway student died as a result of a horrific assault days earlier in Mullingar, Westmeath.
Twenty-year-old bio-medical science student and Leitrim native, Andrew Dolan, had been out with friends in Mullingar when he was assaulted outside a takeaway in the early hours of December 23. Gardai have questioned two men, aged 20 and 21, and a woman, aged 19, in relation to the incident and are examining CCTV in an effort to determine the circumstances surrounding the assault. The three have been released without charge pending a file to the DPP.
Mr Dolan, son of Joe and Rosie Dolan owners of The Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, was kept on life-support in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin until last Sunday, when the devasted family made the decision to switch the machine off. The body of the late Mr Dolan was released from the morturary at Beaumont Hospital Tuesday afternoon and it is understood that the funeral Mass will take place at St Mary’s Church, Carrick-on-Shannon, tomorrow at midday.
It is further understood that Mr Dolan was an organ donor and that a number of people have now been given the gift of life. Mr Dolan had been a very popular student with hopes to fulfilling a career in medical science. He had also been a keen sportsman having played with Shannon Gaels GAA and Carrick RFC.
Over the past few days there have been a number of tributes paid to Mr Dolan with NUI Galway president Dr James Brown and student union representatives extending their deepest sympathies to friends and family. A Facebook page, set up in Mr Dolan’s honour, has also received hundreds of tributes. NUI Galway are also due to hold memorials next week.
