A MAN HAS been arrested in connection with the serious assault of a well-known Limerick hip hop artist last month. 

The road rage incident happened in the Old Cratloe road area of Limerick city at around 10.30am on Saturday, 28 March.

Tobi Omoteso sustained serious injuries and subsequently received treatment at St John’s Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.

The arrested man, aged in his 20s, is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

A garda spokesperson said investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Omoteso, a director of the TOP 8 street dance company, shared details of the assault last month, saying it has left him partially blinded. 

He said that a male motorist “tailed me through the streets of Limerick, chasing me toward a well-known roundabout where he finally forced his way in front of me, swerving to cut off any hope of escape”.

He said the man got out of his car wielding a wooden bat and began to strike his car, eventually shattering the driver’s side window “which exploded shards of glass, like tiny knives, sprayed across my face and buried themselves deep into both of my eyes”. 

The hip hop artist, who also works with Limerick Youth Service, said his “world went dark” after that. “The damage is not just physical, it is permanent. My iris was sliced in half and had to be meticulously stitched back together.”

He added: “I am currently facing the first of four major emergency operations. Even if every single procedure is a success, I will never see the world clearly again, which ultimately affects my job, work, dance, social interaction and confidence.