A man who died after being assaulted in Chester over the weekend has been formally identified.
Ronald Hayes, aged 63 from Morpeth in Northumberland, suffered serious injuries following an assault near to the Liverpool Arms bar in Northgate Street at around 12.50am on Saturday (November 23).
A murder enquiry has been launched and two men, both aged 26 and from the Ellesmere Port area, have been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries..
Ronald's family said: “Those closest to Ronald describe him as a doting partner, father and grandfather whose spirit and energy was infectious. He had a drive for life that outweighed his years. We are all deeply saddened.”
It is understood that Mr Hayes had been in the Liverpool Arms bar during the course of the evening, and was attacked after leaving the premises. It is believed his attackers were in the bar during the evening.
He was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital in a critical condition, and subsequently placed on a ventilator. The ventilator was switched off shortly before 1pm on Monday (November 25).
A Home Office post mortem examination will take place today (Tuesday).
Police are continuing to ask anyone who was in the Liverpool Arms bar, or the area of Northgate Street where the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, and who may have any information of relevance, to contact Chester police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 50 of 23/11/2013.
Information can also be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.
