Teenager who slashed woman might strike again

GARDAÍ said a teenager who slashed a woman as she walked her dog may strike again.

The woman, in her early fifties, suffered cuts to her arm, side and abdomen in the seemingly motiveless attack in a quiet Dublin suburb. The hooded teenager, between 14 and 16, ran up behind the victim as she walked her dog down Griffith Avenue at Marino, North Dublin, around 8pm on Wednesday.

As she turned he slashing her, cutting her five times.

After the attack, which lasted just seconds, the youngster fled and the woman went to a neighbour’s house for help. She was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment and was discharged later that evening.

Gardaí fear the youth may strike again and inflict more serious injuries the next time.

“There’s always that danger,” said Inspector Brian Fenton, of Raheny Garda Station. Describing the attack as unprovoked, he said there no history of serious incidents of this nature in that area, which is populated by an older, more mature, population.

Gardaí at Clontarf are investigating and are appealing for information. The attacker is described as aged between 14 and 16, of thin build and wear a dark hooded jacket.

On the same evening, in Leixlip, County Kildare, a man in his thirties was jumped by three youths as he walked home. Gardaí say they have no motive for the attack, which happened around 10.30pm. The three attacked the man from behind and punched and kicked him as he fell to the ground. He was walking in the Newtown Park area of the town.

The victim’s injuries included a dislocated ankle and damage to an eye. He was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital for treatment.

In Blanchardstown, West Dublin, a man was injured in a shooting incident on the same night. The victim was shot in both legs when he was approached by a masked gunman in the Snugborough Road area.

He was hospitalised but his injuries are not life-threatening. A motive for the attack has not been established.