Dancing with the Stars’ Ryan McShane was brutally attacked in his home town just days before the show is set to begin.
The professional, who has been part of the hit RTE series since it began shared images of his injuries online and assured fans he will be recovered for show time on Sunday.
The Co Armagh native, who recently moved back to his hometown of Lurgan this year, said the incident happened after some dinner with friends in The Courthouse Bar.
Taking to Instagram to show the damage, Ryan thanked the staff for their help.
He also gushed about his girlfriend, Irish model, Thalia Heffernan for keeping him in good spirits during the difficult time.
He said: “Not how I wanted to enter the new year but on Sunday evening I was assaulted after having dinner with with my friends in my home town.
“Just want to thank the staff at the @courthouselurgan for looking after me... and my beautiful girlfriend Thalia Heffernan for always being by my side and looking after me, and keeping me smiling.
And after weeks of gruelling preparation ahead of Sunday night’s first live show, Ryan who is paired with Sinéad O’Carroll for this year’s series said he will be focusing on getting himself fighting fit for the weekend.
He said: “5 days to @dwtsirl live show, I will be fighting fit and ready to go! Much love Ryan.”
Sharing the news on her own social media, supportive girlfriend Thalia said: “It’s been a rough weekend but thankfully all is okay.”
And shaken by the scare just days before ringing in the New Year, she offered her followers some words of advice saying: “Give your loved ones an extra squeeze this new year.
“You never know what’s around the corner.”
The assault follows a brutal attack last Christmas, when former Dancing with the Stars pro Curtis Pritchard was the victim of a nightclub assault that ruled him out of the first few weeks of the show.
The 23-year-old and his brother AJ, 25, who performs on Strictly Come Dancing were brutally beaten while on a night out on St Stephen’s Day in Cheshire.
Love Islander Curtis, from Stoke-on-Trent, who had been paired with former Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter, was left with torn knee cartilage.
