A 16-year-old girl who was eight months pregnant gave birth to a boy hours after she was hit by a stolen car in one of three incidents in Waterford yesterday morning.
The infant was in a critical condition in intensive care at Waterford Regional Hospital last night. The baby's mother was "stable" but will need surgery for a serious leg injury.
The girl, who is a member of the Travelling community and cannot be named for legal reasons, was struck by a car at an illegal Traveller encampment near the cattle mart on the Old Kilmeadan Road in Co Waterford yesterday. It is understood that the girl came out of a caravan as cars began ramming a number of vehicles, and was hit as she fled.
The incident happened after a serious assault on a 21-year-old man at a bonfire on a local authority housing estate.
Gardaí in the city were notified at 12.15am that a man had been assaulted at Larchville.
The man was found to have received serious injuries to his head and leg, reputedly from slash hooks and possibly a knife.
"A number of individuals had come looking for the man, had caught up with him and he was beaten up," said Sgt Larry Langton.
This man is also stable in hospital following surgery yesterday.
At 4.15am, a vacant bay at the Kilbarry Travellers' halting site was set alight.
These bays are to be demolished for new houses to accommodate 12 Traveller families.
Gardaí preserved the scenes at Kilbarry and Larchville yesterday, pending technical examination, while the scene at the Old Kilmeadan Road has been examined.
Gardaí arrested three men in their 20s in relation to the incidents yesterday.
The men were being held at Waterford and Tramore Garda stations for questioning last night.
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