Tourists held as doctor fighting for life after Temple Bar assault
A doctor is clinging to life today after being brutally assaulted in Temple Bar.
The 26-year-old medic received serious head injuries in the incident and remains critical at Beaumont hospital, where he also works.
The doctor suffered multiple fractures to his skull when he was attacked at Temple Lane South, Temple Bar, at 12.45am on Sunday.
The victim is a French national who comes from the city of Montpellier.
Gardai believe the row stemmed after a bizarre argument with his alleged attackers -- two French Canadians -- about the use of language.
The men, who have since been arrested, were later observed going into at least three pubs in the Temple Bar area.
One of the men is also believed to have changed his clothes after the attack.
The badly injured man's father travelled from France this morning to be at his son's bedside. He works as a locum doctor at Beaumont Hospital and is also studying at the Royal College of Surgeons.
Sources say it is "touch and go" if the doctor will survive.
"His head injuries are very severe -- the odds of him surviving are slim enough at this point," said a source.
Hostel
Gardai arrested two men -- aged in their early 20s -- over the assault and they were being held today at Pearse Street Garda Station.
The men are French Canadians from the Quebec province who were travelling around Europe and were staying in a hostel in the Temple Bar area.
The two men were due to fly to Amsterdam yesterday morning but were arrested by gardai in dawn raids.
Sources say the assault happened when a bizarre row started over how the alleged culprits spoke French.
"The two men claim the victim approached them looking for a cigarette and an argument started when he slagged them about their accents and how they pronounced French," said a source.
Detectives are trying to establish if the victim may have been kicked on the ground by the men who claim that he banged his head after being pushed over.
The two men were caught on CCTV running away from the scene and were later observed going into at least three pubs in the Temple Bar area.
One of the men changed his clothes after the attack, which happened outside the hostel they were staying in.
After the incident, the victim was able to walk into an ambulance which brought him to St James's Hospital.
When he was assessed there, medics realised the full nature of his injuries and he was transferred to the Beaumont.
Gardai are appealing for information and in particular they would like to talk to a woman who came to the victim's assistance and put the doctor in the recovery position.
This woman -- who spoke with a Dublin accent -- left the scene as soon as the ambulance arrived. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station at 01-6669000 or the Garda confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Bled
Meanwhile in a separate incident, a garda sergeant who was recently transferred from Dublin to Letterkenny, Co Donegal, almost bled to death when he was stabbed outside Voodoo nightclub in the town.
Sgt Aidan Doherty suffered a severed artery and three other people were stabbed in the same incident in the early hours of yesterday morning. A 46-year-old man was later arrested.
Craig speaks of horror as his mum mugged after having cancer treatment
RTE star Craig Doyle was left horrified after his cancer-suffering mum was mugged a day after she completed a course of chemotherapy.
Eithne Doyle was outside Carrickmines Retail Park when her handbag was snatched by a heartless thug.
The thief carried out the act in broad daylight, after posing as a good Samaritan.
He had initially pretended to help her with her shopping before fleeing with the handbag.
Brave Eithne -- who appears in UPC television adverts with her son and husband -- was still weak after completing a bout of chemotherapy the day before.
She survived bowel cancer earlier this year and had visited the shopping centre to buy plants for her garden.
Craig (40) said that the incident had left his mother "shaken".
"My mum had just finished her last chemo session and then got mugged the next day. The guy reached into her car, pretended to help her and then stole her handbag."ordeal
He added: "She wasn't able to stop him from taking her bag because she was still weak from her treatment. She's okay now, she's stronger and has gotten over the ordeal."
A family pal said: "It's disgusting the way this happened. The scumbag helped Eithne to her car and then robbed her of everything. All he left were her plants.
"There was cash, her phone, her cards, house keys and a few other important items taken.
"She was very shaken and is still suffering the side effects of all the chemo."
Earlier this year, Craig convinced his mother to appear in the television advert with his dad Sean in a bid to take her mind off her battle with cancer.
The advert features the presenter calling into his parents' south Dublin home to help them set up their digital cable package.
Craig admitted that his mother's new-found fame helped her through her illness.
"It was great, it took her mind completely off the fact that she was about to go for this operation.
"Instead of every person in the bridge club saying, 'How are ya Eithne?' they go 'Oh I saw you on the ad, you look great'."
Gallant hurlers keep Dub fans on the edge of their seats in thrilling clash
NO MATTER what happens with the footballers in the coming weeks, Dublin has new heroes to be proud of.
Despite being totally written off by the experts, the county's hurlers nearly pulled off the unbelievable at Croke Park.
Dublin pushed All Ireland champions Tipperary all the way but fell just short in pulsating game.
Fans were left to ponder what might have been had Anthony Daly's men not been hampered by a host of injuries.
And while they won't win the All Ireland to go with their League crown, the Blues showed signs of great things to come. Some 45,563 fans turned out for the momentous occasion at GAA HQ, to watch an enthralling encounter.
"It was a great sporting occasion for both teams and we were just unlucky in the end," said Dundrum man Brian Kelleher.
"It was so much better than everyone expected -- we were figured for a white wash, but it definitely wasn't that," said Emma Casey, girlfriend of Dubs hurler Declan O'Dwyer.
"Drawing at half time and leading throughout most of the first half proves their capabilities.
"It was the best they could do and I'm really proud of them," added Emma, from Mount Merrion.
Mick Monaghan from Ballinteer said: "Going in to it we expected Dublin to be beaten today -- but they gave a good account of themselves -- Tipp was always going to be tough. We have to take our hats off to Dublin, they've come a long way."
Eimear Mairtin, from Dundrum, gave the thumbs up to the lads and said they played a blinder.
"They could have maybe put more pressure on in the end but next year will definitely be our year. It was a little disappointing but these things happen," said Joseph Dromgule, from Swords, who brought his son Cormac (5) along.
One Dublin team did reach the final as the minors triumphed in their semi-final against Waterford.Niamh Costello, proud sister of minors hero Cormac Costello -- who scored four of the six goals for his team -- was on hand to cheer from the stands. "I'm delighted for Cormac, they're thrilled to be through to the final," she said.
"The seniors played their best too and they were injury prone as well -- they did really well," 18-year-old Niamh said.
"Dublin put in a great performance, it was brilliant," said Dearbhaile Heavey, who hails from Kimmage.
"The minors had a fantastic day, a promising sign."
Castleknock couple John O'Reilly and Julie Duignan congratulated the Blues on their extreme effort.
"It was an amazing match, we certainly put it up to them, it could've went the other way.
"Tipp only managed to get one goal, which was quite lucky at the start of the game, so we held our ground," said Julie.
"We're happy we even got to the semi-final," said John.
Brendan Galvin, Blanchardstown, added: "It was one of the most exciting GAA matches we've ever been at -- because hurling at that level is totally new to Dublin -- it was a breath-taking experience."
Pal Sean O'Reilly agreed: "It was only the third hurling match I'd been to at Croke Park and they really smashed it -- I've no doubt the future for Dubs hurling is very bright.
"I hope Daly stays for the next couple of years," said Swords local Maurice O'Mahony.