LEFT TO DIE
Thug chases and floors ‘gentle giant’ with one fatal punch in brutal and unprovoked Trafalgar Square attack
The 51-year-old had been having a drink in central London when she was set upon in the early hours of the morning
A COWARDLY thug delivers a fatal single punch to a 'gentle giant' after chasing him in an unprovoked attack in London's Trafalgar Square.
Shocking footage shows the yob approach 51-year-old Desmond O'Beirne before felling him with a haymaker blow to the back of the head.
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Hard-working Desmond is sent sprawling to the ground - where he smashes his head that resulted in catastrophic brain injuries.
Another thug then piles in and kicks Desmond as he lies unconscious in the pedestrian area of the square in front of the National Portrait Gallery.
Witnesses watch in horror and one woman holds her hands to her face in shock at the brutal assault, which took place at 12.25am on Saturday June 3 last year - the night before the London Bridge terror atrocity.
Desmond, of Westminster, was left in a ‘’vegetative’’ state and died in hospital six months later.
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A post-mortem examination said the cause of death was a head injury.
Police launched a murder inquiry and have offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thugs who attacked Desmond.
Det Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command said: “Someone might see this video and remember that they witnessed this incident.
‘’Desmond was an inoffensive man, a big man and character, who was out having a drink. The CCTV shows that he was senselessly attacked and he never stood a chance.
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“The events of Desmond's attack precede the London Bridge terrorist attacks the following evening.
‘’I’m asking anyone who took any footage or selfies around that time in to contact us; take a look through your photos and see if you have something that can help us.”
Desmond’s sister Vivienne Folan said: "My brother Desmond was hard working and larger than life.
"His life was ended far too soon and our family is left devastated by his loss.
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‘’I hope that witnesses and those from that group who did not know how serious the attack was will now come forward."
The yob who punched Desmond from behind had his hair tied in a man bun above his head and had a full beard.
He wore a red T-shirt, dark trousers and light coloured shoes.
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The vicious coward who kicked Desmond as he lay prone on the ground wore a black jacket with a white emblem on right shoulder and white writing with a picture on the rear.
He was also wearing a white top under the jacket, dark trousers and dark shoes with white soles.
*Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit
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