Athlete attacked near Meelick

A 22-year-old Ethiopian athlete living in Clare was attacked and left unconscious last Thursday after he was set upon as he was out running just outside Meelick.

Labeta Debela, well known in Clare for top performances at the Salty Faces 10km and Munster Novice Cross Country Championships, resides at the Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre and was set upon a short distance from the centre while on his way to meet with his Limerick athletics coach, Willie Lohan.
It is understood Mr Debela was set upon by two men and received blows to the head and face, rendering him unconscious for a period. An ambulance was called and he was treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick but has since been released.
Paddy O’Connell with Limerick Athletics Club said there appeared to be no motive for the attack and claimed he was merely targeted “for the fun of it”.
“Labeta was running on the Knockalisheen road to meet with Willie Lohan, his coach, as he normally does and as he was on the outskirts of Moyross, the Delmege Park area, there was a car coming against him. As he stepped in, two thugs who were on foot jumped him. It was an inopportune time for him and an opportune time for them. He wasn’t robbed, he still had his mobile. I’d imagine it was done just for fun,” Mr O’Connell said.
He added that Mr Debela recalls “two lads attacking him” but doesn’t remember anything else.
“He was fairly traumatised by the attack but it has not affected his running. He was back running on Sunday,” Mr O’Connell stated.
Superintendent Frank O’Brien of Henry Street Garda Station told The Clare Champion that the gardaí have not received a formal complaint on the matter and therefore are not investigating. He said he was aware of the incident through media reports and it is understood that since then, members of the gardaí have spoken with Mr Debela.
“We haven’t received any complaint yet. Labeta is a visitor to the country and he is well known and well liked and we are very concerned about this incident. It would also be a huge concern for us if there was a racial undertone to this incident. Reports of attacks with any type of racial undertones are very unusual and I would hate to think anyone would be targeted in such a manner. The gardaí are here to support him as a victim and identify who is responsible, on the basis that a formal complaint is lodged,” said Superintendent O’Brien.
It is disputed that there is any racial aspect to this incident by Mr O’Connell, who said Mr Debela “had no mention of that”.
“He had no reason to believe that it was racial, he was a soft target and was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.
Members of the athletics community in Clare were shocked to learn of the attack on the talented runner. Mr Debela has been described locally by James Sexton, PRO of Clare Athletics and Munster Athletics clubs, as an up-and-coming athlete with a promising future.