As you may heard in news reports dating from the last 24 hours, an 18-year-old woman was violently assaulted in Maynooth on Sunday evening.

The woman sustained horrific injuries as a result of the assault, including a fractured eye socket and a dislocated jaw, and is in a serious condition at Blanchardstown's Connolly Hospital. In a bid to find the perpetrator of this vicious attack, Gardaí today issued an appeal asking for anyone with information that could help the investigation to come forward. Superintendent Gerry Owens said the estimated time of the attack was between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m as the college student returned to her student accommodation in Maynooth from her home in Monaghan. RTÉ reports that Gardaí investigating the brutal assault have not ruled out the possibility that the woman knew her attacker while also pointing out that such an incident was very "rare" in the vicinity of Moyglare Abbey, a residential area. There is also questions regarding the possibility of more than person involved in the attack and they may have travelled on the same bus, which left from Monaghan, as the 18-year-old. Superintendent Owens has asked anyone who may noticed suspicious activity in the area on Sunday night to get in touch via Leixlip Garda Station on 01-6667800 or the Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800 666 111.