Stab victim Jonny Cooper: Dublin is a great place but stay safe and stick together

Dublin footballer Jonny Cooper has warned revellers to be vigilant on nights out, 10 days after he was the victim of an unprovoked stabbing.

A suspect who was arrested yesterday has been released without charge.

The 24-year-old victim, who was attacked and stabbed repeatedly around the head on Dorset Street at around 5am in the morning on September 20, has once again thanked people for their support and has urged people to be wary when enjoying a few drinks.

"My family and I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the enormous support that I have received over the last ten days. The support has come from everywhere and has been incredibly humbling and helpful to me," he said in a statement released through his Twitter account today.

"To all the professional personnel that helped and took care of me on the night and since the event - thank you.

"I will never forget you for it.

"Dublin is a great place; it is a safe place and it is my home. If nothing else, this can be a lesson that when you're out, stay safe and stick together."

Cooper said he was confident that justice would be done and he appealed for privacy as he tries to get his life back to normal.

"An Garda Síochána and the relevant authorities are handling the matter from here onwards and I have every faith in their commitment to securing a positive outcome," he added

"I have moved on now to focus on the things that matter in my life; family, friends, work and football. I will not be making any furhter comment on the matter and would greatly appreciate it if that can be respected."

Mr Cooper had been on a night out with friends at Copper Face Jacks nightclub in Harcourt Street, Dublin, after his club, Na Fianna, had played in the Dublin championship.

He was on his way home at around 5am the following morning and was sitting on steps outside a house in Dorset Street when his attacker ran across the road, and began stabbing him and demanding his wallet.

The thug then ran off with the wallet, which contained very little money.

A CCTV image of Cooper's attacker was shown on the RTE CrimeCall programme a week ago.

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Online Editors