The police announced the slight improvement, but said that Liam Whorrisky (26), from Donegal, was not out of danger yet.
He suffered serious head injuries in the attack at around 2.30 am on Saturday at the entrance to the Esplanade car park.His attackers left him unconscious in pool of blood on the pavement.Yesterday, officers revealed they had eight local men in custody in connection with the attack.
Of those, five have now been released pending further inquiries.
The remaining three are still being questioned, although no one has yet been charged.Chief insp André Bonjour, who is spearheading the 25-man inquiry team, said officers were still keen to speak to people in the area, especially taxi drivers picking up fares.A number of calls have been received from members of the public, but some key witnesses have still not been identified.
CCTV footage of the area around the Esplanade car park has now been released to the media in a bid to find a couple who were seen walking down the Esplanade.They are believed to have followed immediately behind a gang of men from Folies down the Esplanade and almost certainly saw Mr Whorrisky being assaulted.He added that officers wanted to speak to a man who spoke to police officers arriving at the scene soon after the attack.Mr Whorrisky is known to have been in Folies on Saturday night and it is thought some of the men who allegedly attacked him were in Liquid.
The police believe he was involved in an incident at the bar during which there was what officers described as ‘some elbowing’.
It is not known whether this was connected with the later attack.Officers have appealed to people in Folies or Liquid to come forward with photographs taken on Saturday which may hold vital information.Mr Whorrisky is described as being 6 ft tall and slim with dark hair.
He was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.Anyone with information that may help the inquiry should call the police on 612612.
