Pensioner, 80, covered in blood after vicious Luas assault

The 80-year-old pensioner was hit in an unprovoked attack on the Luas that has left him traumatised

A pensioner was left covered in blood after a violent assault on the Luas.

Ann-Marie spoke about how her 80-year-old dad was hit with a plug from a phone charger during an unprovoked attack in the summer. She said he regularly took trips into the city but he was left traumatised after the incident.

Speaking on RTE’s Liveline, Ann-Marie said: “He got his lunch and he said he was going to go home. He decided to take the Luas back to Citywest, he got on the tram around 1:30pmhe added: “After James’ (Hospital), he got a seat … he was minding his own business … he was just sitting down and then next thing, he could hear people shouting and everything else.

“And next thing something came flying and hit him in the face and it was a plug from a charger. He didn’t really know what was after happening.

“He was totally disorientated, there was blood coming down his face.” Ann-Marie said other passengers who were on the tram immediately went to his aid following the attack which is understood to have taken place in Bluebell, the Irish Mirror reports.

She said Luas security boarded the tram and took her father’s details.

She said her father said it happened “very quickly” and he is not able to describe the assailants.

Her father also told his daughter he believed he was just involved in the “crossfire”.

Ann-Marie explained: “It’s that anti-social behaviour on the trains.”

She said today was the first time he’s been back in Dublin on the Luas on his own since the assault.

Ann-Marie explained: “(Monday) was his first day that he decided to go back up and take that chance. He’s an independent man, he’s been doing this for years.

“Nothing had ever stopped him before. He was like I shouldn’t be put off by these little toe-rags.”

Speaking about how he is now, Ann-Marie said: “He is fine … he was very, very shaken. He took to the bed and he was very down in himself … I don’t want anything happening to my dad on the Luas.

“I want him to be able to go up and enjoy his day and do what he wants as an older person.”

Her dad used to do the journey with his wife before she was diagnosed with dementia.

Ann-Marie said he likes doing the journey and it brings him “happy memories”.

The incident was later reported to Gardai in Kilcullen in Kildare who are still probing it.