Three teens arrested over attacks on elderly workers in athlone

Gardaí have arrested three males following two attacks on elderly people in Athlone on Tuesday.

At around 1.30am a male taxi driver, aged in his 70’s, picked up two males on Church Street and drove to Bloomfield Drive where he was threatened and assaulted by his passengers. He sustained a number of stab wounds during the incident. The two males fled scene on foot with a small amount of cash. The injured man was taken to Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe and has since been discharged.

Later that day, at around 5.45pm three youths armed with a firearm and an iron bar entered a shop on Ballymahon Road. They threatened and assaulted the shop keeper, a male aged in his 70s, before leaving the scene on foot empty handed. The injured man was taken to Portiuncula Hospital where he was treated for head injuries. He was later discharged.

During a follow up operation in Athlone today, Gardaí arrested three males aged in their late teens. All three are currently being held in Athlone Garda Station. Two of the males are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, while the third is detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939.

Gardaí are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to contact Athlone Garda Station 090-6498550 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.