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Gardai in Ashbourne have arrested three people and identified a number of other individuals following a vicious attack on a young boy in the area.

A 14-year-old teenager was knocked unconscious after being beaten by a gang of up to 40 youths who were armed with knives.

The incident happened on Friday evening and subsequent videos of the attack were uploaded to Snapchat.

The youngster's phone and wallet were stolen in the incident and the boy is currently in hospital.

Gardai rushed to the scene and had to use pepper spray on the gang in order to retaliate.

One garda even received minor injuries in the brutal attack.

The mother of the 14-year-old admitted to seeing one of the videos and stated that several of the group members can be seen laughing in it.

She told Dublin Live on Saturday: "They're saying 'we've just killed one of the Ashbourne lads' - they don't know him, he's never seen them. These were big lads and he's only 14."

In a statement, Gardai said that arrests have been made and that a number of other individuals are in the process of being interviewed.

A garda spokesman said: "On the evening of Friday 8th March 2019 Gardai in Ashbourne observed a large group of teenagers get off a bus in the centre of the town.

"The group were observed entering a multi-story car park, where they approached a small group of local youths who immediately dispersed.

He added: "One local youth was assaulted before Gardai could intervene.

"This youth and a Garda sustained minor injuries. Gardaí made three arrests under the Public Order Act.

"Gardaí are now identified a number of other individuals who were involved in the incident and are in the process of interviewing them."