The local community have rallied around a young Meath man who is in a critical condition following a brutal assault.
Ciaran McErlean, 21, who has been described as "friendly and decent" suffered serious injuries after he was attacked in the early hours of last Saturday morning.
The injured youngster was found on Watergate Street in Navan, at around 3am on Saturday.
He was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Local TD for Meath West Peadar Toibin told The Herald: “I know the family and I know Ciaran, he is a lovely young fella and a very friendly, decent and very warm character, and it is just shocking to see this has happened".
Mr Toibin also called for a greater garda presence in the area following the assault.
He added: "There have been a number of very serious and brutal incidents in Meath over the last number of months.
“There has also been a large increase in sexual violence in the county over the last year.
“Meath has the lowest number of gardai per capita in the country, and there are many causes (of crime), but a major cause is the number of gardai in recent years.”
“This type of serious assault demands serious action".
A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection to the event on Sunday morning.
He was questioned for a number of hours before being released without charge.
A file is now being prepared for the DPP.
Gardaí are appealing for any persons who were in Watergate Street area between 2.45a.m. and 3.30a.m. and who may have witnessed the assault or any motorists who may have passed through Watergate Street around those times and have Dashcam footage to contact Navan Garda Station on 046 - 9036100, The Garda Confidential Line 18000 666 111 or any Garda Station.
