Eastern Europeans injured in attacks

Two Eastern European men were in a critical condition in hospital today following attacks in Dublin and Limerick.

A 48-year-old Lithuanian man was walking along the Royal Canal in Drumcondra, Dublin, with friends when he was attacked by a gang of youths at around 10pm yesterday.

The man managed to run away but was caught again by the youths and viciously attacked.

He was taken to the Mater Hospital in Dublin, where he remains in a coma.

Gardaí arrested two men immediately after the attack and a third later. All three are due to appear before Dublin District Court to face charges.

In Limerick, an Eastern European man suffered severe head injuries after he was attacked by two men outside a filling station in Dooradoyle at 4pm yesterday.

He was taken to Limerick Regional Hospital and later transferred to Cork University Hospital in a critical condition.

Gardaí were searching for the two men involved in the attack.

A Garda spokesman said the scene had been sealed off and would be examined by the Garda technical bureau.