A violent attack in Clondalkin, County Dublin, resulted in the tragic death of a Croatian man, an act that has been described as “heinous, savage, and primitive” during a vigil. Over 100 individuals gathered on Grange View Road, near the spot where Josip Strok was discovered critically injured on March 30th.
Mr. Strok, a 39-year old who worked as a carpenter and resided in Dublin city centre, sustained severe head trauma. Despite being in critical care for several days, he tragically passed away on April 3rd.
Prior to the commencement of the vigil, local law enforcement handed out leaflets, seeking public cooperation in solving the case. While there have been no arrests, the local police force is currently looking for the help of two individuals who are believed to have information about the incident.
Roberta Terzic, who also originates from Croatia and has been living in Ireland for nine years, described her feelings since hearing about Mr. Strok’s shocking assault and subsequent death as “devastating”. While having lived in Dublin since 2015, this event has significantly impacted her perceptions about her living environment and has created a fear for her own safety, she commented.
Another Croatian resident, Jelena Basic from Split, who has been living in Ireland for six years, joined in Ms. Terzic’s sentiment, expressing her own disgust regarding the incident which has left her feeling considerably unsettled.
During the vigil, both women, who met for the first time on Friday, along with several other distressed Croatians, mourned Mr. Strok’s loss. Mario, another attendee, expressed how this brutal attack was perceived as a significant blow within their community, adding his own feelings of insecurity.
Finally, the vigil was coordinated by the group Clondalkin for All, where one of its members, Darragh Adelaide, reiterated the scorn for the “heinous, savage, and primitive” attack.
Clondalkin has long been recognised as an inclusive community, and the speaker fondly recalls it as a welcoming home for their Nigerian immigrant father for almost three decades. The diversity in Clondalkin demonstrates its inclusivity, with residents hailing from varying backgrounds.
Meanwhile, additional Garda personnel were occupied with enquiries, dispersing leaflets across the neighbourhood and engaging with residents. Miles away, children engaged in play and cycling.
A great number of individuals residing near the location where Mr Strok was discovered attended a public gathering, with a lady emphasising that they had exerted every effort to rescue him.
The lady, who attempted CPR on Mr Strok, chose not to reveal her identity, but conveyed her desire to assure his family that they had endeavoured to save him. It was reported during the vigil that Mr Strok, who was a kind individual, had in his final act, saved four lives through organ donation.
Local independent councilor Francis Timmons expressed that the mood was quite understandably solemn after the tragic loss of a young life. Many attendees of the vigil, including Mr Timmons, expressed their firm belief that the assault was driven by hatred, citing a recent interview with one of Mr Strok’s friends as evidence.
David Druzinec, a friend of Mr Strok from Croatia, also survived a serious assault. He shared with Jutarnji, a Croatian news outlet, that before the assault, they were instructed to communicate in English. Following the confrontation, they opted to take a bus. According to Mr Druzinec, the bus was trailed by their attackers in a car who launched another unexpected assault once they were on foot again.
Mr Druzinec recounts being struck first, perhaps with a rod or a bat – the specifics he had sought from the police who allegedly had video evidence. He tried to assist Mr Strok but was attacked even more brutally. His last memory was being admitted to Tallaght University Hospital.
In the final stages of the vigil, flowers and candles were arranged on the street, at the location where Mr Strok was discovered, near an idyllic home. Overseeing the silent gathering of more than a hundred people was a father and his daughter, standing at their front doorstep barely a few feet from where Mr Strok was discovered.