A group of cyclists have revealed how they were terrorised by thugs before being beaten and robbed by a gang of 15-20 teens on Dublin’s Grand Canal.
The horror attack happened in Clondalkin last Thursday when the three friends were making their way towards Lucan.
The friends, two men and one woman in their 20s, had been going by the Ninth Lock area when the teens stepped out in front of them causing one of them to fall off their bikes.
The woman cycling behind then hit the back of her friend and fell to the ground before the gang attacked them and wrestled the bikes away.
The woman told Dublin Live how they threw bottles at her as she lay in agony with a sprained ankle.
Thugs throw bottles at heavily pregnant woman on Luas tram in Dublin
She said: “We were past the bridge that’s beside the Clondalkin Train Station. The lads were on the path one jumped in front of my friend so he had to go in front of me.
“Everything happened so fast I just remember hitting off his bike and landing on the ground spraining my ankle.
“I went straight into shock since my ankle was in absolute agony. My friends focused on me making sure I’m alright and that’s when the lads walked up asking if I’m alright.
“That’s when it immediately clicked they don’t care, they’re up to something. I told my friend in Polish so they wouldn’t understand to watch the bikes not me.”
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The woman then said the group knocked her friend to the ground before making off with her bike.
“My friend was holding my bike (since his one is the old one that they had no interest in) and he got a dig in his stomach so hard he dropped to the ground.
“The other friend was playing tug of war with the other lads that were trying to rob his bike. He got kicks to the shin and all that he had left in his hands were the mudguards from his bike.
“That’s when they all ran off. I still couldn’t get up since my ankle was in agonising pain, I started calling the guards and since the gang of lads saw me on the phone they copped on and started throwing bottles at us.
“One hit my friend in the head but thankfully he had his bike helmet on.”
Gardai told Dublin Live the investigation is ongoing while anyone with information can contact Ronanstown Garda Station.
A spokesman said: “Gardai are investigating the theft of two bikes.
“The incident occurred at the Ninth Lock Canal, Clondalkin D22 on the 18th April 2019 at approximately 8.30pm.
“Investigations are ongoing. No injuries were reported.”
If you recognise or have seen either of the bikes in the photos you can contact Ronanstown Garda Station at 01 666 7700.
