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Gardaí have appealed for witnesses after a 17-year-old man received stab wounds in a Limerick city suburb in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The injured man was found by emergency services at Fr Russell Road near the Oakfield estate at about 1am and was taken by ambulance to nearby University Hospital Limerick.
It is understood he was initially being treated for critical injuries but his condition subsequently improved and he is now in a serious but stable condition.
Gardaí cordoned off at least two separate green areas as crime scenes.
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They are expected to interview the young man in realtion to what happened him as soon as he is well enough.
Originally from Eastern Europe, he sustained “a number of stab wounds”, garda sources said.
It is understood he was chased and attacked on a green area, in front of Gouldavoher estate, Dooradoyle. Gardai would not comment on speculation that it was linked to a local dispute between a number of families.
“He’s lucky to be alive. He was attacked on a green area and he is in a serious but not life-threatening condition,” a garda source added.
A coat recovered at the scene by gardai was sealed in a brown garda evidence bag.
The investigation is being led by Roxboro Road Garda Superintendent Eamon O’Neill, who said gardai were “harvesting CCTV” in the area and conducting local “house to house enquiries”.
Limerick city metropolitan mayor, Daniel Butler tweeted: “I am appealing to anybody who may have seen anything last night to contact Roxboro Gardai.”
He added it was “frightening news to wake up to and hear of this in our community”.
He later wrote: “Very shocked community here especially our elderly.”
Gardaí said they were following a number of lines of enquiry and appealed for witnesses to contact Roxboro Road garda station on 061-214340.