The young man who died on New Year's Day as a result of injuries he sustained in a horrific assault in Mullingar on December 23 was the son of well-known hotelier and Leitrim GAA sponsor Joe Dolan.

Twenty-year-old Andrew Dolan, who was a bio-medical science student at NUI Galway and hailed from Carrick-on-Shannon, was attacked outside a fast food restaurant after spending the night out socialising with friends who were class-mates of his during his time at Wilson's Hospital secondary school in Multyfarnham. He was knocked unconscious when he hit the ground and had been kept alive on life-support at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital before his devastated family consented to switch off the machine last weekend.

His funeral will take place in St. Mary's Church, Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday.

In a statement released on Monday on behalf of his family, Andrew's father Joe paid tribute to his son as a "much loved, popular young man with a bright future."

"My wife Rosie and our sons Gavin and Jack are devastated at the death of our son and our brother," he said.

"We thank the many people, friends and Andrew's fellow students in Carrick-on-Shannon and Mullingar who have been a great support to us during this devastating ordeal."

The Dolan family have been long-time supporters of Leitrim GAA with The Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, which Joe owns, being the current sponsor of the county football team. Andrew was a goalkeeper with the Shannon Gaels club, which is situated on the Roscommon side of Carrick-on-Shannon, and was also a talented rugby player with Carrick RFC. Tweet

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