Nicholas McHale gave evidence in support of the man later convicted of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel
No suspects have been arrested a month after a masked intruder with a sharp weapon "kicked in the door" and attacked a man at the home of a witness who gave evidence in defence of Thomas Cashman.
Mr McHale was called as a witness by Cashman's defence team in his trial for the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, shot dead in her home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, on August 22 last year. Cashman, 35, claimed he was at the home of a man called Craig Byrne, who lived opposite Mr McHale, at the time of the shooting.
Cashman, however, was convicted of Olivia's murder, the attempted murder of his intended target, Joseph Nee, and wounding Olivia's mum, Cheryl Korbel, with intent. Detective Inspector Michael Fletcher said at the time: “This was a terrifying and violent attack on a man who has suffered significant cuts and wounds to his head. The investigation is in its very early stages and I would like to reassure residents that our officers remain at the scene to investigate the attack.