Man dies after being punched outside pub

Police Service of Northern Ireland

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'

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.