The village of Berrings is in complete shock after the tragic death of a local man over the weekend.
89-year-old Matthew Healy was killed in a violent assault at Mercy University Hospital in Cork yesterday morning.
A 32-year-old man remains in custody.
Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Looney knew Mr.Healy personally, and he says his wife had died recently.
"Mr. Healy was a thorough gentleman.
"He was highly respected in the parish, and as well as being a gentleman he was kind - and I emphasise that with a capital 'K'.
"He was just unique, a lovely gentleman, and he lost his wife less than three weeks ago."
The INMO meanwhile is calling for a full security audit of hospitals around the country in the wake of Matthew Healy's death.
In a statement this morning the Union says it is offering full support to its members in the Mercy, and have offered their sympathies to the family of Mr Healy.
General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha says they are repeating their call for a full review and audit of security systems and protocols in Irish hospitals, and that an audit hasn't taken place since 2016.
The INMO statement in full reads:
"The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for a full security audit of all hospitals.
"INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families at the centre of yesterday morning’s tragic incident in Mercy University Hospital.
“We have been offering our union’s full support members in the Mercy and will continue to do so.
“In light of this awful incident, the INMO is once again repeating our call for a full review and audit of security systems and protocols in Irish hospitals. We haven’t had a security audit of our hospitals since 2016, it is time now for the HSE to complete a full audit of what measures are in place in each hospital.”
