Shop assistant knocked unconscious by theft suspect

BY FRANCIS FARRAGHER

Gardaí have appealed to the public for assistance in trying to track down a man who knocked a shop assistant unconscious after apparently being confronted over a shoplifting incident.

The incident occurred at the Centra shop at Bothar an Chóiste shortly after 7pm on Saturday last with the injured man brought by ambulance to UHG – he was released from hospital later that night.

The assailant had been approached by an employee of the shop in relation to goods on his person – he then lashed out with his fist, knocking the assistant to the ground. It is understood that the victim hit his head off the floor leaving him in an unconscious state – Gardai and the ambulance services were immediately notified and the man, in his mid-20s, was rushed to UHG.

A spokesman for Galway Gardaí said that they were taking a very serious of the incident that resulted in an innocent man suffering serious injuries in an unprovoked assault.

“Thankfully the victim has made a full recovery and we are pursuing a definite line of inquiry in our investigation of this incident but we are appealing for any witnesses to make contact with us at Mill Street Station at (091) 538000,” said the Garda spokesman.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel