SYDNEY - A New Zealand man has been charged and another man has been arrested over the assault of an Irish backpacker outside a Bondi hotel six months ago.
Detectives from Strike Force Journey arrested a 23-year-old New Zealand national outside his home at 6.30am AEDT (8.30am NZT)today in Lalor Park in Sydney's west, police said.
He has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm of John Counihan and is due to appear before Blacktown Local Court this morning.
Police arrested a second New Zealand national, aged 26, at a Kings Cross building site shortly after 7.30am.
He is being questioned by police and is expected to be charged with being an accessory after the fact.
Police allege a group of men assaulted Mr Counihan, 23, after he left the Royal Hotel in Bondi Road about 10.15pm on Friday September 22 last year.
Mr Counihan remained in an induced coma for several weeks and part of his skull was removed to reduce the swelling on his brain after he was kicked and stomped on a number of times, police said.
He had been living in nearby Coogee and working as a labourer for about five months.
He spent two months in hospital recovering from his injuries.
Eastern suburbs Crime Manager Inspector Jason Smith said police had received information from the public which led to today's arrests.
Detective Smith said police inquiries were continuing in New Zealand into a third man who was wanted over the assault.
