Gardai are investigating after a man (42) was brutally assaulted at a Luas stop in Tallaght on Friday night.

Simon Cleary (42) from Kingswood, Co Dublin was on his way home from the city centre when he was attacked at Belgard Square at around 1am.

“He was in town having drinks with colleagues from work and got the Luas home,” Simon’s wife Patricia told Independent.ie.

Patricia said Simon fell asleep on the Luas on the way home and got off at Tallaght after missing his stop at Kingswood.

Expand Close Simon Cleary was on his way home from the city centre when he was attacked at the Luas stop / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Simon Cleary was on his way home from the city centre when he was attacked at the Luas stop

“When he got off at Tallaght he saw a couple of fellas walking behind him and he instantly started to walk faster.

“He was trying to get a taxi when the three men came up behind him and started reaching for his phone.

Expand Close Simon Cleary was attacked as he waited at the Tallaght Luas stop / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Simon Cleary was attacked as he waited at the Tallaght Luas stop

“Simon began to walk away faster and one of them punched him in the back of the head and he fell down. He could have been killed instantly.”

Patricia said that the three men continued to kick Simon in the head and face and punched him repeatedly.

“He was badly beaten up. He had a foot print on his face from being kicked so badly.”

The three men stole his mobile, his work phone and his wallet during the attack.

“He walked home to Kingswood because he couldn’t get a taxi. When he came in I was shocked. There was blood everywhere.”

Patricia said she was particularly worried about Simon’s head as he had fallen off a building in Australia a few years ago and had to get a complete facial reconstruction.

Expand Close Patricia and her husband Simon / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Patricia and her husband Simon

“He is blind in one eye and has titanium plates in his head so I was really worried that they might have injured his good eye or damaged the plate in his head. I’m worried about the damages underneath his face.”

Simon went to Tallaght hospital where he got six stitches in his head and three in his lips.

“The punch from the back of the head could have killed him instantly. We read about those stories all of the time.

“I’m from Tallaght and it’s generally safe but I just wanted to warn people that this kind of thing can happen,” said Patricia.

“It’s terrifying, he’ll be left with scars now.

“Simon is in bed trying to recover. He’s in a shocked state with a very swollen head but he’s ok. I’m lucky he’s not an overly dramatic person.

“It could have been worse. I’d hate to think it would happen again to someone, particularly a young girl walking on her own. One blow can kill.”

Gardai were called and are investigating the incident.

No arrests have been made but anyone with information is asked to call Tallaght garda station at 016666000.

Online Editors