Man suffers severe facial injuries during fracas

A 21-year-old Galway man sustained severe facial injuries during a fracas between two groups during the early hours of Thursday last, January 19. Gardai received reports of a fracas between two groups outside the Crói "ige apartments on the Dublin Road at about 1.20am on Thursday last. The young man received the worst injuries during the incident and underwent treatment at University College Hospital Galway. When asked if a bottle was used during the attack, gardai would simply say that a number of implements were used, but would not specify what these were. A number of other people suffered minor injuries. Garda are still taking statements from witnesses and are trying to establish how many people were involved in the fracas, but have ascertained that there were two groups of people. Anyone with any information can contact Athlone Garda Station on 090 6498550. Separately on Thursday evening a woman in her 70s was mugged while on her way home from town. The incident happened at about 5pm at St Kieran's Terrace when a man came up behind the woman and stole her handbag and ran away. She did not suffer any injuries. On Friday a man in his 30s was arrested in relation to the mugging and questioned at Ballinasloe Garda Station. He was later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.