A teenager was raced to hospital in the early hours of this morning after he suffered facial injuries in a violent mugging in Leixlip.
The 19-year-old man is understood to have been walking home with a friend, also 19, when he was set upon by two other men near a church in the Old Hill area of the village.
The teen was threatened and hit a number of times in the face in the cowardly attack after he refused to hand over his mobile phone.
The thugs took the other teen's mobile phone.
The injured young man was later taken to hospital where he was treated for facial injuries that will require surgery.
Gardai in Leixlip are appealing for witnesses to contact them.
A garda spokesman said: "At approximately 12.30am a 19-year-old man was approached and threatened by two other males.
"He was struck an number of times and his mobile phone was stolen before both assailants fled the scene on foot.
"The injured man attended hospital for treatment to facial injuries.
Witnesses or anyone with CCTV footage from the area are asked to contact Leixlip Garda Station 01 6667800.
