Appeal for witnesses after man viciously beaten in Trim attack

A 45-year-old man remains in a serious condition at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, after being assaulted in Trim in the early hours of Sunday morning. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward who may have any information in relation to the vicious assault in which a foreign national was set upon by three men and seriously hurt. The attack occurred at the entrance to the Emmet Street car park at around 1.15am on Sunday, 31st October. The victim was beaten unconscious and was taken by ambulance to Connolly Hospital where he has been treated for serious head injuries. His condition has since improved and, while his injuries remain serious, they are not believed to be life-threatening. Two men were arrested and questioned in relation to the incident on Monday. The first was released without charge on Monday evening and the second male was released without charge yesterday (Tuesday) morning. A third man was arrested yesterday (Tuesday) morning and was still being questioned at time of going to press yesterday afternoon. All three men are described as being in their late teens. A file is expected to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Trim Gardai are appealing to any witnesses to the assault to come forward. Gardai say it would have been a busy time in the area after the pubs closed and that there would have been plenty of people passing by the scene of the incident. The scene was preserved and a technical examination was carried out by the Garda divisonal scenes of crime unit. Gardai are also examining CCTV from premises in the area as part of their investigation. Anyone with any information or who may have witnessed the attack is asked to contact Trim Garda Station on (046) 943 1222. Terror ordeal An elderly lady was locked in her bedroom by a male intruder who broke into her house on Thursday night but managed to escape through the window and raise the alarm. Navan Gardai are investigating the incident where the elderly lady’s home was broken into at Proudstown, Navan, between 9.30pm and 10pm. It is understood the man searched a number of rooms and demanded money from her before locking the terrified woman in her bedroom and fleeing the scene. The woman, who is in her 80s, managed to get out her bedroom window and raised the alarm. It is understood that a gold bracelet, a gold chain and a small amount of cash were taken. Gardai are investigating whether the burglary is connected to another incident earlier in the day where an elderly man’s home was broken into at Randlestown, Navan. This break-in occurred between 1.30pm and 1.50pm when two men forced their way in through a back door. They searched the man and took a small amount of cash from his pockets. They left through the back door. One of the culprits is described as about 50 years-old, 5ft 10” in height and he was wearing a long brown jacket. The other man was younger and was wearing light-coloured trousers. Gardai believe they may have parked a vehicle in the area and walked to the house. Anyone who noticed a suspicous vehicle should contact Navan Gardai on (046) 907 9930. Meanwhile, three flares were fired at Gardai, one of which missed a garda by just inches, at Dean Cogan Place, Navan, on Halloween night. A large group of youths had gathered at a bonfire at the Navan estate and the fire service werec called the scene and put out the bonfire at around 11.30am and the area was cleared by Gardai. Gardai returned at around 12.05am when the group had regathered and three flares were thrown at Gardai. One missed a garda’s head by just inches. A 15-year-old youth was arrested. In total, Navan Gardai received some 33 '999’ calls on Halloween night, between 6pm and 4am. Most calls concerned minor incidents where youths were causing a disturbance. Apart from the incident at Dean Cogan Place, another serious incident also occurred at SuperValu, Johnstown Shopping Centre, after bins were set on fire. Shortly after midnight, two bins that were up against a window were set on fire. The heat caused the window to break and a passing patrol car saw the fire and Gardai used a fire extinguisher to bring it under control before it spread further to the premises. Navan Fire Service were also called to the scene, Gardai are following a definite line of enquiry and have examined CCTV in the area. A numbers of youth had been moved on earlier in the night by Gardai. A burglary at Limekiln Hill, Dublin Road, where some €16,000 of property was stolen is also being investigated. The break-in occurred between 5.45pm and 7pm on 28th October. Jewellery including a diamond eternity ring, a gold ring with five diamonds, a diamond engagement ring, and a gold ring were taken, along with a small quanity of cash. A burglary occurred at Kilcarn Heights, Navan, between 10.30am and 7.45pm on 27th October, where a small amount of cash and seven pairs of earrings were taken. Gardai are investigating a burglary at Maple Lawn, Johnstownwood, Navan, between 8.15am and 2pm on Saturday, 30th October. A laptop and a quantity of cash were stolen. Burglaries are also being investigated that occurred at The Green, Athlumney, at 8pm on Friday and at Clonardan, Navan, between 2pm and 8pm on Saturday. It is understood the homes were ransacked but nothing was taken. The theft of a Honda quad at Gilltown, Navan, between midnight and 5.45am on 26th October is also being investigated. The quad, valued at €5,000, was taken from a shed and tracks suggest it was driven through a field to a van that was parked at the nearby road.