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A video of a young man being savagely kicked unconscious in a brutal St Patrick’s Day assault has gone viral.

Gardai are investigating after the disturbing footage of a vicious assault in Dublin city centre was posted on social networking sites on Tuesday evening.

Within hours it had gone viral along with a nationwide appeal to identify the attackers.

The guys in the video have taken to Facebook this morning to defend their actions against claims by their pals that they were out of order.

At least two men in tracksuits were caught on camera running into the road on Aston Quay and kicking a young man lying on the ground.

One of the boys kicked the helpless victim, thought to be from Brazil, in the head and ran off before the other booted him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Terrified eyewitnesses looked on and screamed in horror as the savage assault played out in broad daylight.

And as soon as the attackers ran off, a number of bystanders - some draped in tricolours and wearing leprechaun hats - ran onto the road to help the lifeless victim.

Horrifically, the camera phone that filmed the assault picked up the sound of the kicks to the face.

One angry Facebook user who saw the video online fumed: “Absolutely disgusting! Made my stomach turn looking at this!

“Hard man attacking a defenceless man like that.

“On a day where we’re all proud to be Irish and celebrating our culture & heritage and some little s**t degrades our nation with his vicious behaviour.”

Another added: “I am horrified to think another human being could do this. Total and utter filth.”

A garda spokesman confirmed detectives are investigating and “following a definite line of enquiry”.

He added: “Officers in Pearse Street are investigating an affray on Aston Quay in the city and are appealing for anyone with information to contact us.”

And now the young girl who posted the video online is living in fear, her pals have claimed.

It's believed the attackers were as young as 15.

Do you recognise the people in this video? Call gardai in Pearse St on 01 666 9000