Three people have been arrested by gardaí investigating the death of Martin Lynn (33) who died in hospital after a one-punch attack in Santry, north Dublin, last July.
The two men and one woman, who are all aged in their 20s, were arrested this morning in the Dublin area by detectives from Ballymun Garda Station.
Mr Lynn died on August 1, 2023, in Beaumont Hospital after he was the victim of a one-punch attack near his home in Whitehall after a night out.
He was rushed to hospital after being struck by a motorcyclist when he exited a taxi on Sunday, July 30, at around 4.30am on Larkhill Road.
The sports injury clinic worker had just stepped out of the passenger side of the taxi when he was confronted by a motorcyclist.
After an exchange of words, Mr Lynn was punched and fell to the ground. He died two days later.
At his funeral, Mr Lynn was remembered as a “kind, sensitive and gentle soul” who expressed his passion for life through his “love of rock music”.
His sister Sharon told mourners that it was “an unwarranted act of violence that took him away from us” and called on those in attendance to aid the family “in our fight for justice for Martin”.
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Speaking at Martin’s funeral, his sister Sharon said it was hard to speak about him in the past tense “when I haven’t accepted that he is gone”.
“It's hard to put into words how wonderful a person he really was. The sad reality is that while I always knew he was sensitive, considerate and extremely kind; I don't think I realised how lucky I was to have him as my brother.
"Everyone who met him fell in love with him, even if it was for a short while. I hope he knew this.
“We had a lot of similarities, but also a lot of differences. It would make him laugh today to see his sister wearing his Trivium t-shirt – that's a heavy metal band for anyone who doesn't know.
"He had a great sense of humour. And I've no doubt if roles were reversed, he'd be right up here in a Britney Spears t-shirt,” Sharon said.
Mourners were told of how Martin became an uncle for the first time this year to Sharon’s daughter Lily and had “tears in his eyes” when she asked him to be godfather.
"Lily will grow up knowing everything there is to know about her uncle. But it fills me with such anger and sadness that an unwarranted act of violence is what has taken Martin away from us. I had a picture of Lily by his bedside in the hospital.
"I thought if anything could spur him on to wake up, it could be her but it was too late,” Sharon said.
Martin is survived by his beloved parents Patrick and Sadie and his loving sister Sharon. Sadly missed by his heartbroken parents, sister, brother-in-law Anthony, his niece Lily, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and a large circle of friends and colleagues.
Sharon who later appeared on RTÉ’s Crimecall previously said her brother “didn't stand a chance” when he was assaulted “just seconds away” from his own front door.
Ms Lynn shared a tribute to her brother whom she described as “kind”, “funny” and “gentle”.
“In the early hours of Sunday morning at around 4.30am, my kind, funny and gentle young brother Martin was violently and unnecessarily attacked by a motorist passing through Larkhill road in Whitehall,” she wrote.
“Just seconds away from the front door of our family home. A home where we had so many happy memories in a nice quiet community.
“A home that Martin lived in and felt safe in for 33 years. I cannot put into words the shock and devastation we feel.”
She said her brother was “simply trying to get to his own front door” on the night of the attack.
“Martin was a mild-mannered, funny, polite and positive young man and was never involved in any trouble or violence. Small in stature, but big in heart.
“Our lives have been shattered from the choice that this man made that night and I will not rest until justice has been served.”
Ms Lynn also pleaded for the public’s help to catch the attacker.
“If you want to help us to get justice for Martin, can you check any doorbell, dash cam or CCTV footage you may have from Sunday, July 30 between 1am and 6am if you live in Whitehall or any of the surrounding areas.”
Ms Lynn further stated that she wants to draw attention to the fact that the assault “was unprovoked” and not road rage or a row. She said Martin “did not engage with his attacker”.
Gardaí have also appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
A statement released by An Garda Síochána reads: “One of the males is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, while the other man and woman are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. All three are being held at garda stations in the Dublin Region.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
