AN AMERICAN TOURIST is in a serious condition after he was attacked by a number of people on Talbot Street in Dublin City last night.

Gardaí said the incident is believed to have occurred at around 10.40pm on Talbot Street in Dublin 1, where “a number of persons attacked a man”. 

The man, aged in his 40s, was later taken to Beaumont Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. His condition is described as serious but stable.

It is believed that the man was an American tourist from the state of Washington and that he has visited Ireland on a number of occasions.

Commenting on the attack, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was “never acceptable” when violence happens and he said he hoped the man made a “speedy recovery”.

“Of course people who live in our city to experience this as well from time to time and it’s never acceptable,” Varadkar told RTÉ Six One News.

There is a strong response from government, both in terms of stiffer penalties and also in terms of increasing garda resources and court resources.

Varadkar defended the Government’s record in relation to Garda resources, saying that a new station on O’Connell Street had been opened and Fitzgibbon Street Station had reopened. 

He said the Government had plans to recruit 1,000 new garda members to the force, but that it was “an area that is hard to recruit in at a time of full employment”.

He said it was an ambition to see more gardaí on the streets.

Lack of resources

In a statement following the incident, local Dublin City Councillor Nial Ring said that the attack on the tourist has “appalled everyone in the area”.

“The fact that it took place within yards of the busiest Garda station in the country, makes it even more disturbing,” Ring said.

 The councillor criticised what he said were a lack of proper garda resources in the area.

“Again and again local public representatives have pointed to the lack of Garda resources in the area as lately as two weeks ago when local councillors met with Chief Superintendent Pat McMenamin to discuss our ongoing concerns and ask for his plans,” he said.

His hands are tied because of lack of resources and we fully appreciate the huge work being done by Gardaí in the area but they are stretched beyond belief.

Ring said he did not want to see Talbot Street and the surrounding streets become a “no go area”.

The attack comes after Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Hrekov was attacked in a nearby location last month shortly after performing at the Abbey Theatre. He was part of a Kyiv theatre company that had travelled to Dublin to put on a production of Translations by Irish playwright Brian Friel.

The actor required stitches in hospital after what the Abbey called an “unprovoked, random act of mindless violence”.

Leo Varadkar yesterday apologised in person to Hrekov during his visit to Ukraine.

He asked if the actor was doing okay, to which Hrekov replied, through a translator: “Yes, everything is fine, everything is perfect.”

The Taoiseach said: “I’m sorry for what happened. Dublin is my home town, but sometimes not 100% safe, unfortunately.”

The young actor’s reply was: “All places are like that.” 

A garda spokesperson said that no arrests have been made at this time in relation to last night’s assault.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information in relation to this incident or who may have video footage to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

A GoFundMe account has been set up by the man’s son and his sister. 

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald