Gardaí in Dublin have appealed for information about an assault on a 24-year-old man in the city in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The assault took place on the North Circular Road at around 1.50 a.m.
The injured man, who is from Dublin, and his female companion were passing St. Peter's Church, Phibsborough, when they were approached by a number of youths, according to the Garda.
A Garda statement said it was unclear what followed, but that as a result the man was stabbed in the back with an implement. He was removed to the Mater hospital with a punctured lung and remains there in intensive care.
A number of taxi drivers stopped to help and followed the suspect towards Doyle's corner where he reportedly escaped.
Gardaí at Fitzgibbon Street would like to speak to a number of people, including taxi drivers in the area at the time and, in particular, those who stopped at the church.
They would also like to speak to any person who was in the area at the time and who witnessed the attack.
Gardaí are also seeking the occupant of a black 99 KE-registered car, described as 30 years old and of stocky build and a 20-year-old man with short hair and a white shirt which hung out over his trousers, who were both in the area at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the gardaí at Fitzgibbon Street at 01-6668400