AN inquiry was under way last night into circumstances surrounding the death of a man who was allegedly chased through a city centre before being brutally attacked.

Police are hunting a gang of about seven people who viciously assaulted 34-year-old Michael Anthony Brolly, repeatedly kicking him as he lay unconscious on the ground.

He was found by police officers in Low Ousegate, York, on Sunday night following the violent attack which detectives say was witnessed by several people.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Barlow, who is leading the investigation, said: "We know that more people saw this incident than have so far come forward.

"The people involved in this appear to have known each other and it may be that witnesses would feel they were only seeing some drunken misbehaviour, rather than what is actually a very serious crime."

Mr Brolly, of Margaret Street, York, was jailed for 25 months in 1998 after he admitted ploughing his car into a group of three young women while drunk, breaking one woman's wrist. He was sent to Wealstun Open Prison, but escaped in March 1999. He was later re-arrested when he was spotted in Clifton, York.

Mr Brolly had also been involved in two sieges, including one in July 1996, when he threatened to stab a police officer and break the jaw of another.

A team of 24 detectives and task force officers is working on the inquiry and have been studying closed circuit television footage taken in the area on Sunday night.

Mr Brolly was attacked by a gang of six or seven people in Low Ousegate after being chased from outside Breeze Hair Design and Beauty Salon, in George Hudson Street.

He was found by police officers lying unconscious on the pavement. He had suffered massive internal and external injuries and later died in York District Hospital.

Seventeen paving stones, which may hold forensic evidence, were removed from the scene of the incident yesterday.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the events leading to the attack should contact police on (01904) 631321.

l Two men and a woman were arrested yesterday afternoon in connection with the incident and were being interviewed at York police station. A third man was arrested and released on police bail.