Gardaí have denied reports that suspects have been identified in the vicious assault of an 18-year-old student and reissued their appeal for witnesses.

Ms Owens (18) remains seriously hurt in Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown after suffering severe facial injuries in the assault in Co Kildare.

She was attacked at the entrance to the Moyglare Abbey Estate after travelling from her home town near Castleblayney in Co Monaghan on a private bus on Sunday, November 20.

Sources have told Independent.ie that a group of young women are being investigated in relation to the horrific attack.

However a garda spokesman has now insisted that there are no suspects.

The spokesman said: "We have not identified any suspects in this investigation."

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Gardaí have this evening renewed their appeal for any witnesses who were in the area on November 20 to come forward.

Gardaí expect to progress this line of enquiry in coming days.

A team of detectives have painstakingly taken 200 statements and trawled though hours of CCTV footage in an attempt to identify who was behind the attack.

Last week a senior officer said gardai would like to speak to some of more than 200 people who have already made statements in case anyone had "forgotten" to tell officers anything.

"They can come back to gardai in full confidence, they will not be in trouble or anything like that. Their information could be crucial," the source said.

Kym suffered horrific injuries in the violent attack – including broken eye sockets, a broken jaw and a broken nose. She also lost several teeth.

Officers from Leixlip Garda Station are investigating the serious assault – but a garda spokesperson said that no arrests have yet been made.

Independent.ie previously revealed that gardai are extremely concerned that Kym may not remember anything about the attack.

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She was viciously beaten in Maynooth on her way to her college accommodation.

She had just got off a private bus and was set upon while walking to her digs at the Moyglare Abbey Estate.

The investigation has already been hampered by poor-quality CCTV because of fog.

In an information appeal a week after the attack, gardai encouraged people to provide any information they might have, regardless of how unimportant it may seem.

As part of their inquiries gardai have also interviewed 52 people who travelled on the same bus as Kym from her hometown in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

A number of fundraising events were held by local businesses in the area for the assault victim.

One establishment, The Roost Maynooth, which is a popular venue for local students, managed to raise over €11,000 after holding a fundraiser.

Gardaí have asked anybody with information to contact the investigation headquarters at Leixlip station, on 01 6667800.

Online Editors