AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Dennis Ireland Beaten, In Critical Condition

We told you about ex BDF soldier Dennis Ireland in late October - at the time police sent out his name saying he was wanted as a person of interest in connection with the theft of the 42 firearms from the BDF armory.

But he was never charged - and his name did not come up again, until today when he heard that Ireland was in critical condition at the KHMH.

The full details are not known but Ireland is currently in the surgical ward at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. He remains in a coma after several men beat him badly in the early hours of Saturday, November 12.

At the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, his family declined to give any comments to the media, but they did say that he was drinking and he had gone to a bar near Caesar's Palace on Princess Margaret Drive.

He was playing pool, and in the early hours of Saturday morning, he attempted to leave. That's when a brawl took place between Ireland and several men who were attempting to take his bicycle away.

Police have not issued any formal report on his assault, and his relatives couldn't describe his injuries to us.

They also point out that according to their information; his assault was in no way connected to the weapons, of which he has been completely cleared.

They said that he was only questioned by police, and he was immediately released after.

Channel 7

Former B.D.F. soldier in Coma

Dennis Ireland's name became headline news on last October twentieth, when a late evening police press release said that Ireland is "a person of interest" in connection with the Theft of the firearms stolen from the Belize Defense Force Armory on October twelfth. Ireland turned himself in for questioning, but his name did not appear in the report written by C.E.O. Allen Whylie who recommended suspension of three officers nor was he ever charged with the B.D.F. heist. But before that press release, Ireland was involved in a bar fight as far back as March of 2010. He got in trouble because he was in his Belize Defense Force uniform and he had a round of ammunition in his pocket. Since then, he left the force and has been working as a diver with family members. But Ireland is now in a coma at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital since early Saturday morning. In this most recent incident, Ireland was embroiled in a brutal bar fight and at least four men got the best of the former soldier. It's bad press for his relatives, one of whom told News Five that he is a good person and a family man.

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"He come in from work and he gone out and they all mi di have fun and drink. He left on the bike and so ih gone dah this pool place. And they said that right there a fight broke out. They knocked him; some man jumped on him and beat him up."

Jose Sanchez

"How bad are his injuries?"

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"At this point we are not sure. He's just unconscious and that's all we know. We are waiting and hoping and praying for the best. Since Saturday morning about one or two; I'm not sure."

Jose Sanchez

"Since he's been in the hospital, has anyone come to look for him?"

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"Yes a lot of friends; a lot of B.D.F. friends, lot of people cause he is a good man. He has so many awards from B.D.F.; he worked so hard. He was in B.D.F. for seven years. Since he left B.D.F. a year ago, he is diving. He's a diver."

Jose Sanchez

"What was his reaction when he heard about this thing about the weapons when his name was thrown into the middle of it?"

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"We were shocked but we didn't care about it because we know that it is not him and we know that we are a honest and good family. So that didn't matter to us."

Jose Sanchez

"As you are aware, there is a big report that came out about with people who are going to be suspended, but nowhere in that report is the name Dennis Ireland mentioned."

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"Because we know he is not that kind of person and we have faith and we know that he is not that kind of person. So we didn't fear anything that came out in the news because we know he is not involved in that; he is a good person and family man."

Jose Sanchez

"When people heard that he was injured, people said maybe it had to do with the weapons. You're saying that it's not that-just a fight."

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"Yeah it's not that, It was just a fight. He was playing pool and he was drinking and a fight broke out."

Jose Sanchez

"Did doctors give any word or what they expect would be his outcome?"

Voice of: Relative of Dennis Ireland

"Well we heard that he was stabilized and the doctors are working with us giving us courage. So we are hoping and praying for the best and we know he will come out of it."

Channel 5