An off-duty garda suffered a serious head injury after he was assaulted by a group of teenagers while returning home from a night out in Limerick last night.
The Galway-based garda was struck in the face and hit his head on the ground after he was attacked at about 3.30am in the St Patrick’s Road area of Limerick City.
He was returning home from a night out with his wife when the couple were approached by a group of teenagers.
It is understood the victim, who is in his 20s and based in Gort, was in Limerick for the weekend visiting his wife’s family.
He was taken to Mid Western Regional Hospital, where he is being treated for a fractured skull.
Detectives do not believe he was targeted because of his occupation and investigating officers have described the incident as completely unprovoked.
“This man was returning from a night out with his wife when without provocation, they were confronted by a number of youths,” a Garda spokesman said.
“He was struck and fell and hit his head on the ground. We are appealing to anybody who was in the St Patrick’s Road area, which is a settled residential area, and who may have witnessed anything to contacted the Gardaí at Henry Street,” he added.
Meanwhile, a Limerick man in his early forties remains in serious condition at University Hospital in Cork after he was assaulted in a separate incident last week.
Ger Sheehan, who is from the city, suffered a serious head injury after he was viciously attacked at St Francis Place off Nicholas Street in Limerick in the early hours of Friday morning.
He had been attending a house party in the area early that night. It is believed he was attacked by two men who were refused entry to the party.
Gardaí discovered Mr Sheehan bleeding heavily when they were called to the scene of a house fire which took place in the same area.
Gardaí believe the same people are are responsible for the assault and the arson attack.
Officers are appealing for anyone with information to contact Henry Street Garda station on (061) 212400 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111.