Teenager arrested over attack on Swiss tourist in Dublin’s Temple Bar

Officers in Pearse Street investigating the incident detained the boy under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

He has since been released pending referral to the Youth Diversion Programme in relation to this incident.

Investigations are ongoing.

The attack happened in the Fownes Street area of Temple Bar at around 9.50pm on Friday.

The victim, who is a Swiss national in his 40s, had been visiting Dublin and is understood to have been with a woman companion in a fast-food restaurant in the area before the brutal assault, and that there may have been a verbal row with a group of younger men.

After the couple left, the man was attacked a short distance away.

It is unclear if a weapon was used in the attack, but the man received very serious facial injuries and could lose the sight in one eye, and possibly the eye.

He was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel before being taken to St James’s Hospital.

While his injuries are very serious, they are not life-threatening.

Gardaí from Pearse Street are asking for anyone who has information or footage of this incident to contact them.

CCTV from the fast-food outlet and in the Temple Bar area is being collected and reviewed as part of the garda investigation into the incident.

Anyone with information can contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 11 or any Garda Station.