Overview
- A 30-year-old local man, Carl Holland, was punched outside a licensed premises on Suffolk Road and taken to hospital in critical condition after the assault on Friday, June 12.
- Police confirmed on June 19 that Holland has died and that detectives from the PSNI Major Investigation Team are leading a formal probe into the incident.
- Officers say the attacker arrived by taxi at about 9pm, struck the victim and left the scene in the same taxi, and enquiries found an earlier verbal altercation inside the venue that night.
- Three people were arrested in the days after the assault—a 20-year-old on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and a 46-year-old man and 44-year-old woman on suspicion of conspiracy—and all have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
- Detective Inspector Collins has asked anyone with information or footage to contact police on 101 or report online, quoting reference number 1174 13/06/26, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.