Gardaí have arrested three men in connection with a number of incidents that occurred in the Athlone area, including the repeated stabbing of an elderly taxi driver.
A statement from the Garda said that the taxi driver, a man in his 70s, picked up two men from Church St at approximately 1.30am on Wednesday.
He drove them to Bloomfield Drive where he was threatened and assaulted by his passengers.
“He sustained a number of stab wounds during the incident,” said the statement.
The two men fled the scene on foot with a small amount of cash.
The injured man was taken to Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe and has since been discharged.
It’s believed the driver received in the region of 30 puncture wounds to his face and neck during the robbery.
He was told to drive to Coosan, but on the way, the two passengers produced what appeared to be knives and demanded that the driver hand over all his cash.
He attempted to reach for the intercom to summon help but was immediately stabbed in the hand. His seat belt was twisted up around his neck to restrain him and he was beaten.
The driver was repeatedly prodded with the knife as the pair screamed at him to hand over his money. He was by now bleeding from his puncture wounds.
The two men took his entire takings as well as his watch before making their getaway.
His bloodied taxi was taken by gardaí for forensic analysis.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything on Church Street or on Bloomfield Drive that may help them in their investigation, to contact them at Athlone Garda Station on 090 64 92609.
In another incident, three youths armed with a firearm and an iron bar entered a shop on Ballymahon Road at approximately 5.45pm.
They threatened and assaulted the shop keeper, a man aged in his 70s, before leaving the scene on foot empty handed. The injured man was taken to Portiuncula Hospital where he was treated for head injuries. He was later discharged.
During a follow up operation in Athlone on Wednesday, gardaí arrested three men aged in their late teens in connection with the two incidents.
All three are currently being held in Athlone Garda Station. Two of the men are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, while the third is detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939.
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to contact Athlone Garda Station 090-6498550 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
Investigations are ongoing and further updates will follow.
