‘Horrific’ assault in Cavan Town centre
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The first photograph shows a physical altercation between a group of people in Pearse Street, between Dunnes Stores and Tesco in the centre of Cavan Town.Image 2 of 7
The victim on the nearside of the shot makes a run away from the group in the direction of Dunnes StoresImage 3 of 7
This picture shows the victim, dressed in all dark clothing, break away from the group and run in the direction of the Dunnes Stores building with a few others in pursuit.Image 4 of 7
The man in the baseball cap grabs the victim and reaches his right arm back before bringing it forward to punch the victim in the head or neck area knocking him off his feet when he hits his head off the kerb.Image 5 of 7
The blonde-haired woman in the white jacket ran up to where the victim was lying with the other man’s knee on his chest area and jumped on his crotch.Image 6 of 7
As the blonde jumps onto the pavement she narrowly misses the victim’s head.Image 7 of 7
After the assault, the victim can be seen lying on the kerb outside Dunnes Stores in a limp state as his attackers and another woman in black looks on.Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a young man was set upon by a male and female during a violent altercation in Cavan Town centre at the weekend.
A video, currently in circulation on social media, captures the incident. It appears to show a man punching the victim to the ground before the victim is jumped on by a woman as he lies limp against a kerb on Pearse Street.
Gardaí confirmed to the Celt that the male victim, who is aged in his 20s, was taken to Cavan General Hospital by ambulance.
A woman also in her 20s who was arrested at the scene has been “released without charge”, gardaí said.
The time stamp on the video, which is apparently shot on the mobile device of someone standing metres away from the incident between Dunnes Stores and Tesco, is 20:45 on Saturday night, March 21.
The early evening assault just off Main Street when local people are socialising in restaurants and pubs in Cavan Town centre has been called “disgraceful” and “horrific” by some local politicians.
The video, some still images from which we print here, shows a group of six people including four women and two men, on the Tesco side of the road near Townsparks, in a physical argument.
The victim, breaks away from the group but, as he makes his way to the opposite side of the street to the Dunnes Stores building, the other man of the group goes after him.
The man in pursuit then grabs hold of the victim before landing a punch to the victim’s head area causing him to lose his footing and fall back hitting his head of the kerb outside Dunnes.
The assailant then continues to beat the man around the head landing at least three punches.
The victim’s head is on the edge of the kerb, his neck over its side and he appears unconscious.
While a second female dressed all in black comes over to check on the victim following the attack, the first woman shoves her in the shoulder.
Gardaí confirmed to the Celt that they are investigating the alleged assault and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: “A male (20s) injured in the course of the incident was taken by ambulance to Cavan Hospital. A female (20s) was arrested at the scene and has since been released without charge. Investigations are ongoing.”
Local councillor Patricia Walsh (FF) lives in Cavan Town. She told the Celt the assault was “an absolute disgrace”.
“This is so worrying,” Cllr Walsh said. “As a councillor living in the middle of the town, a video like that is just intimidating and frightening to hardworking people.”
Another Cavan Town councillor, Niamh Brady (FG) described the assault on the young man as “horrific”.
“I’m just shocked,” Cllr Brady said. “It’s a disgrace that this happened to this young fella.”
The councillor, who also sits on the Community Safety Partnership, said she recently raised the need for brighter street lighting in Cavan Town because local people have told her they don’t feel safe in the county town at night any more.
“I’m thinking of my own children who are 12 years old and who are just dying to go into town on their own, but I have people telling me it’s not safe.
“There should be more guards on at the weekends, but the guards need help,” Cllr Brady said.