Ennis Gardai are appealing for information following a serious assault during which a man had one of his fingers cut off and his face slashed.
The incident is believed to be part of an ongoing feud in Clare’s County Town and members of the armed regional support unit were drafted in to patrol the streets overnight.
This incident happened in broad daylight near Ennis National School on the Kilrush Road as the 43 year old man picked up a number of his young children shortly after three yesterday.
A group of men pulled up in a black car nearby and attacked the man’s car with an axe and an iron bar before turning on the driver who suffered serious injuries to his face and shoulder and had part of a finger severed.
Two young children and a teenager in the car were unharmed but said to be traumatised.
The victim was initially treated at Ennis General Hospital but then transferred for surgery to try and re-attach his finger.
Extra gardaí, including members of the armed Regional Support Unit were drafted into Ennis and checkpoints were set up across the town.
Ennis Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have been in the Kilrush Road area or Market Square around the time of the assault to contact them on 6848100.