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Man dies after being punched outside pub

Emmet McElhattonBBC News NI
News imagePolice Service of Northern Ireland Carl, who has brown hair with a medium length fringe, smiles at the camera. He is wearing a greeen shurt and white t-shirt.Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police have confirmed Carl Holland, who was assaulted outside a pub in west Belfast, has died

Police are investigating the death of a man who was punched outside a pub in west Belfast last Friday.

Carl Holland, 30, died in hospital, where he had been in critical condition due to a serious head injury since last week.

The incident took place in Suffolk Road, close to where Holland was from at about 21:00 BST.

Police have said, after a verbal altercation earlier in the evening, the male suspect arrived in a taxi and punched Holland, before leaving the scene, again in a taxi.

A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent was subsequently released on bail to allow for further enquiries.

A 46-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm have also been bailed.

In a statement, Det Insp Collins of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Major Investigation Team extended his condolences to those close to Holland.

"We can confirm that Carl Holland has sadly passed away, and our thoughts are, first and foremost, with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time."

'Senseless act'

News imageDoherty has dark hair and a beard speckled with grey. He is standing in front of a hedge.
Independent west Belfast councillor Paul Doherty described the assault as a "senseless act"

Independent west Belfast councillor Paul Doherty has described the assault as a "senseless act".

"There's deep shock right across the community right now at this incident.

Doherty said "the message here" is "to think before you act in this way".

West Belfast MP Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey said what happened was "absolutely devastating".

"I want Carl's loved ones to know that the community stands with them as they endure an extremely difficult period of grief and heartbreak," he added.