GARDAI IN WESTPORT ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES TO A AN ATTACK ON A MAN AT THE FOOT OF CROAGH PATRICK ON SUNDAY LAST. IT’S ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 20,000 PILGRIMS CLIMBED CROAGH PATRICK OVER LAST WEEKEND FOR THE ANNUAL REEK SUNDAY PILGRIMAGE AND NO SERIOUS INJURIES WERE REPORTED BY CLIMBERS.

MORE THAN HUNDRED RESCUE PERSONNEL WERE ON DUTY ON THE MOUNTAIN ON SUNDAY, WHERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES WERE REPORTED IN WHAT WERE DESCRIBED AS “LESS THAN PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS” FOR THE CLIMB.

THIS ATTACK UNDER INVESTIGATION BY GARDAI HAPPENED AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN ON SUNDAY.THE VICTIM, WHO IS THIRTY YEARS OLD AND FROM DUBLIN RECEIVED SLASH WOUNDS TO HIS FACE AND WAS STRUCK WITH A PICKAXE HANDLE.

THREE ASSAILANTS WERE INVOLVED, ALL BELIEVED TO BE IN THEIR TWENTIES.

THE VICTIM WAS TREATED FOR HIS INJURIES AT MAYO GENERAL HOSPITAL AND WAS LATER DISCHARGED.

TWO STANLEY TYPE BOXCUTTER KNIVES AND PICKAXE HANDLE WERE RECOVERED AT THE SCENE AFTERWARDS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO ARRESTS BUT GARDAI IN WESTPORT SAY THEY ARE FOLLOWING A DEFINITE LINE OF ENQUIRY.

ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON THE ATTACK ARE ASKED TO CONTACT WESTPORT GARDA STATION AT 098 25555