The scene of the incident in Maynooth, Co Kildare (Photo: Colin O'Riordain)

The scene of the incident in Maynooth, Co Kildare (Photo: Colin O'Riordain)

The scene of the incident in Maynooth, Co Kildare (Photo: Colin O'Riordain)

The scene of the incident in Maynooth, Co Kildare (Photo: Colin O'Riordain)

The scene of the incident in Maynooth, Co Kildare (Photo: Colin O'Riordain)

The motive for an attack on an 18-year-old college student walking to her digs on Sunday night is unknown.

An investigation has been launched after the young woman was discovered seriously injured on a footpath outside a Co Kildare estate.

The incident took place on Sunday evening shortly before 8.30pm.

The girl was found outside the entrance of the Moyglare Abbey Estate, Maynooth after being seriously assaulted.

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She suffered a broken jaw, broken nose and broken eye sockets in the attack.

The motive for the attack is not known.

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Locals said the young woman's phone and bag with her laptop were not taken, so robbery is unlikely.

The victim got a private bus to Maynooth from Monaghan, which travelled via Castleblaney, on Sunday. She was walking to her digs near the university when the attack happened.

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It is also reported locally that the victim lost a lot of teeth in the attack.

On Monday night an appeal was made on Crimecall for anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

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Specifically gardai are looking to speak to anyone who was on a private bus from Monaghan which arrived in Maynooth at 8.15pm to contact them.

Local couple Patrick and Chris Kirrane said they were shocked at the attack.

"We've never heard of anything like this happening around here before. It's such a quiet estate. We are numbed by it all," said Chris.

"There are quite a few students from the university staying in accommodation here, especially first years. I hope they catch whoever did this and that the poor girl will recover," she added.

The young woman received medical assistance at the scene before being taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown.

Maynooth University said in a statement that it was "very disturbed to hear of the serious incident" and had made support available to the victim and her family.

The university added: "The safety and wellbeing of all our students is of the utmost importance to us.

"The university is working closely with the gardaí and offering advice and support services to all students concerned about this incident."

The area has been preserved for a technical examination.

No arrests have been made.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information, particularly those who were in the vicinity of Maynooth Village/Moyglare Abbey Estate between 7.30pm and 9.15pm last night, Sunday 20th November 2016, to contact them at Leixlip Garda Station on 01 6667800, The Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any Garda station.

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