Teens arrested over assault

TWO teenagers — including a juvenile — were arrested in connection with a serious assault outside a pub in Thurles at the weekend.

A 22-year-old man suffered severe injuries in the attack and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Garda sources said the young man — from Co Clare — was “lucky he wasn’t killed” such was the ferocity of the kicks he received to his head.

The victim’s parents and family relatives are conducting a vigil at his bedside in the hope he will recover.

He is understood to have been staying with a relative in Thurles over the bank holiday weekend.

Gardaí said he was outside a pub on Mitchell Street at about 1.30am on Sunday. Some eyewitnesses have told gardaí he was out smoking with his alleged attackers and may have known them in some way.

But Garda sources said they did not think they were connected and that it may have been a “chance encounter” outside the pub.

The young man was punched and suffered kicks to his head.

He was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital and remains in a critical condition. Gardaí hope he may begin to show signs of recovery in the coming days.

Sources said that if the man’s brain injuries were very serious he would have been moved to Cork.

With many of the local businesses only opening yesterday, gardaí were unable to carry out detailed door-to-door inquiries and searches for CCTV footage until then.

But gardaí made quick progress and, at 7am yesterday, detectives moved in on the two main suspects and arrested them at their homes in Thurles.

One is a juvenile, aged 17, while the other is aged 19. One has a previous description for a public order offence but neither are said to be well-known criminals.

They are being detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the attack or who may have information to contact Thurles Garda Station on 0504-25100, the Garda Confidential Line 1-800-666-111 or any Garda Station.