Gardaí appeal for witnesses to ‘one-punch assault’ in Galway

Gardaí in Galway City are trawling through CCTV footage over the past few days in an effort to identify the culprit in a so-called ‘one-punch assault’ which occurred last week in broad daylight.

The victim of the assault – a man in his twenties from Co. Meath – was knocked unconscious in the attack which happened at 2.15 on the afternoon of December 2.

The assault – which seems to have been unprovoked – resulted in the victim being rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Galway where he was treated for a serious head injury.

It is understood that the victim hit his head off the roadway or pavement at the scene of the assault on Middle Street close to the junction with Lower Abbeygate Street.

Gardaí cordoned off the scene of the assault that evening and have issued an appeal for any witnesses to the assault to make contact with them.

The male suspect in the attack was in the company of two to three other people at the time and left the scene on foot following the incident.

The Connacht Tribune has learned that the injured party has made a good recovery from his injuries and was due to be released from hospital this week.

“These one-punch assaults can have shocking consequences in terms of the victim hitting their heads off the roadway or pavement.

“We are doing a detailed trawl of CCTV footage and we are pursing a definite line of inquiry, but we are appealing to any witnesses – or indeed anyon with information of assistance to Gardaí – to make contact with us,” said a Garda spokesman.

Gardaí can be contacted at Galway Garda Station, Mill Street, on 091-538000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any Garda station.

Meanwhile, Gardaí are treating head injuries suffered by an elderly man in the Headford Road area of the city on Friday night last at around 10.30pm as completely accidental.

The man is understood to have fallen close to the door of his residence off the Headford Road after returning from the city centre. He’s in a serious condition at University Hospital Galway.