The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A young woman is in a critical condition in hospital following a serious assault in Ennis on Thursday evening.
The incident happened shortly after 6pm in the Market area of Ennis town centre. Passers-by are believed to have raised the alarm when they witnessed an incident in the vicinity of the public toilet at Garraunakilla close to the Ennis Market.
Gardaí and ambulance paramedics responded to the call and on arrival established that there was a person inside a public toilet. Unable to gain access to the toilet, the fire service was requested to assist.
Two units of Ennis Fire Service attended the scene and gained entry to the toilet. Ambulance paramedics and an advanced paramedic, specially trained in advance life support skills, assessed and treated the woman at the scene.
She was rushed to University Hospital Limerick in a critical condition with fire service personnel travelling in the ambulance to assist paramedics as they continued to resuscitate the woman. She is in her late 20s.
It is understood that a man was seen earlier kicking the door of the toilet. Gardaí spoke to a number of people at the scene and have been checking the local area for CCTV cameras in the area from which they hope to secure footage.
A man in his mid-30s was arrested at the scene and is being detained at Ennis Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Gardaí have sealed off an area of Upper Market Street and Garraunakilla. The indoor Ennis Market carpark and the adjacent public toilet, where the woman was found, have also been preserved as part of the investigation.
A crime scene technician photographed the area while a more detailed technical examination will also be carried out. Gardaí have launched an investigation into the incident.
