AN IRISH MAN who was brutally beaten in a vicious assault in Australia last month has died.

David Greene, a 30-year-old from Dublin, was surrounded by his family and friends when he passed away at a Melbourne hospital early Friday morning (local time).

His parents, Aidan and Catherine, and brothers Luke and Aidan, have expressed their “gratitude to all those who have helped and supported them through this difficult time”.

In a statement, issued through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the family also said it would particularly like to express its “deep gratitude to the medical staff at The Alfred Hospital for the wonderful care and attention they provided to David, and to the staff at the Irish Australian Welfare Bureau in Melbourne for all their support”.

The Greenes have now asked for their privacy to be respected as they grieve for the tragic loss of their precious and much-loved son.

The statement concluded, “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.” (May his soul be at the right of God)

The second man injured in the attack, David Byas – a friend of the deceased – has been discharged from hospital, police say.

Both men were staying in a St Kilda East boarding house on 26 August when the assault occurred.

Detectives in Melbourne have charged a 31-year-old man in connection to the attack. Luke James Wentholt appeared in court to be charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury and two counts of recklessly causing serious injury, as well as a number of other related offences. He is being remanded in custody until his next hearing on 8 October.

Homicide detectives have now taken over the investigation.

According to the Herald Sun in Australia, Homicide Squad Detective Inspector John Potter has asked for more witnesses to come forward. He expects to upgrade the charges to murder next week and believes other residents of the boarding house could shed more light on the circumstances of the incident. The detective would not be drawn on reports that there was a hammer used during the attack.

Potter said that Wentholt was also residing at the backpacker’s hostel on Lynedoch Avenue, where Greene was working.