Three more serious assaults in Dublin

Gardaí are investigating three serious attacks in Dublin on Wednesday night.In one incident a woman walking her dog in Marino was attacked by a knife-wielding youth and slashed five times.

Across the city in Blanchardstown a man was shot in both knees in a gun attack; in Leixlip a man was beaten by a gang of teenagers while walking through a housing estate.

None of the three victims was in a critical condition.

The assaults came days after Mr Barry Duggan, a librarian, was attacked by a gang on Grafton Street. He is still in "critical but stable" condition in hospital.

The woman attacked in Marino was slashed five times as she walked her dog at St Declan's Terrace just after 9.30 p.m. Gardaí said the incident appeared to have no motive. The victim, who was in her 50s, was not carrying a handbag and no attempt was made to rob her.

Gardaí said the attacker was aged between 14 and 16. He was of slight build, wore a dark hoodie top and escaped in the direction of Griffith Avenue. The woman made her way to a nearby house after the attack and was taken to Beaumont Hospital, but she had not sustained deep wounds and was discharged yesterday.

A man in his 30s was shot in both legs in Corduff area of Blanchardstown at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

He was walking through a green area in the Tolka Valley when attacked by a masked gunman, who was lying in wait for him in undergrowth. It is believed the victim knew his attacker. He was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital.

Just after 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday a 31-year-old man was attacked by a gang of youths as he walked home through the Newtown Park housing estate in Leixlip. The man was jumped on from behind by at least three youths and punched and kicked to the ground. He sustained severe bruising to his face.

He was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital and discharged yesterday.

Besides those three attacks and the assault of Mr Duggan, several other serious incidents have taken place this month. A 30-year-old man was stabbed while being mugged in the Sundrive Road area two weeks ago. He suffered a collapsed lung during the attack. Less than 24 hours later, a house and car were shot at during a gun attack at Donomore Green in Tallaght.

Dublin criminal Declan Griffin was shot dead at the Horse and Jockey pub in Inchicore on April 5th. The following day a man was assaulted at 3 a.m. on Anglesea Street, in the city centre. He was set upon by a five-man gang after leaving a nightclub. One of the attackers inflicted serious facial wounds on the victim with a bottle or broken glass, which required 150 stitches.