A Limerick father was beaten and stabbed and left “brain dead” on the eighth anniversary of his son’s death by stabbing, his wife said.
William “Liam” Higgins, 55, originally from Rhebogue, suffered catastrophic head injuries in an assault at O’Dwyer’s Bridge, Athlunkard Street, on St Patrick’s Day, Tuesday.
A man in his 20s is believed to have sustained minor stab wounds at the scene of the assault.
Mr Higgins’s son Jamie Higgins (23) was stabbed to death during a row with another man at a nightclub at Shannon, Co Clare on St Patrick’s Day 2018
William Higgins’s wife, Sharon Higgins said she was “shocked” when she heard the news of her husband’s injuries.
“As far as I am concerned my husband was murdered. He is brain dead, it is the same thing,” added Ms Higgins.
“He (Liam) was heartbroken over his son’s death.”
“I am horrified about it, I feel there is nothing left of me to be honest.”
“I don’t know anymore, I am just a shell now, there is nothing left of me, this is too much to handle,” said Ms Higgins.
“My children are devastated. There is no hope or justice in this world for us.”
“I am not able to bury anymore. It’s the same thing again. I have cried so much.”
“I heard the news last night from the hospital that he is brain-dead and for us to come down and say our last goodbyes.”
Ms Higgins said it was “heartbreaking” for her and her family that her husband had suffered such a serious assault on the anniversary of their son’s killing.
“My son’s anniversary was only yesterday, and now his father…it’s too much to handle and take on,” she said.
“He always had a great connection with his children, and he was very down (about Jamie).”
Speaking of the assault on her husband, Ms Higgins said: “He was beaten to a pulp and he was stabbed.”
The mother of three said she and her husband had been recently living at separate addresses but remained on good terms.
Mr Higgins was residing at a flat at Grove Island, Corbally, located only a few hundred yards away from where he was found seriously injured.
Ms Higgins said doctors told her family that her husband has no hope of recovery and told them to say their last goodbyes to him.
“I have to go through all of this again now, like I buried my son, I have to bury my husband the same way.”
Ms Higgins said she believed her husband had went to meet friends at a local pub “and he never made it home”.
“He was a gentleman, he worked his whole life, he loved his children, no one had a bad word to say about him,” she said.
“He was a quiet, calm, loving and very caring father to his children, he loved them with all his heart,” she added.
Although they found themselves living separately in recent times, Ms Higgins said: “He was the best husband.”
“We’re all very broken up over it, he never did nothing to no one, he just suffered in silence about the death of his son, Jamie.”
“We are all just broken and now we are left with nothing at all. I’m crying so much, and I have to go through all this again.”
A man in his 20’s was arrested this Wednesday morning and was being questioned by Gardai in relation to the attack.
Meanwhile, Gardaí are investigating a seperate alleged serious assault on a man in Limerick City that occurred on St Alphonsus Street in Limerick city in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 18th March 2026,” said a Garda spokesperson.
“Shortly after 3am, Gardaí and emergency services responded to the incident. A man, aged in his 20s, was brought to Cork University Hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
Appealing for witnesses, Gardaí said they would like to speak to anyone who was in the area of either crime, any road users or pedestrians, and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.