Appeal for witnesses after man (72) attacked in Limerick

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses after a 72-year-old man was attacked in Limerick City.

The man was grabbed from behind by a cyclist while he took a stroll last Sunday afternoon.

The victim was dragged into an alleyway off Upper William Street around 4pm and knocked to the ground by the lone attacker.

“He was alone and was attacked from behind by a cyclist who dragged his victim into a laneway, knocking him to the ground and forcibly trying to steal his wallet,” said Sergeant Justin McCarthy of Henry Street Garda station.

“The 72- year-old victim suffered cuts and bruises to his hands and knees and was fortunate not to be seriously injured.”

The elderly man’s ordeal only ended when a group of passersby intervened.

Gardaí are now looking for witnesses to contact them with information.

“It was only the intervention of members of the public that stopped the attacker who then escaped along the same laneway towards Lower Gerald Griffin Street, said Sgt McCarthy.

The attacker is described “as wearing a brown coloured hoody and blue denim jeans. He was cycling a lime green coloured bicycle,” Sgt McCarthy added.

“It is likely a number of people witnessed this attack and no matter how trivial you think your information is, it may be of great importance to the Garda investigation,” Sgt McCarthy said.

Gardaí at Henry Street can be contacted at 061-212400 or witnesses can also contact the Garda Confidential Hotline on 1800-666-111.