A 29-year-old nurse and mother of three was in a critical condition last night in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, after being attacked and beaten. Mrs Marie Hennessy, of Killaloe, Callan, Co Kilkenny, was found unconscious in a pool of blood beside her car shortly before noon last Monday.
Mrs Hennessy, a nurse at Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford, had been beaten around the head with a blunt instrument. Two of her daughters were in the car at the time.
Mrs Hennessy was rushed by ambulance to St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, and was later transferred to Beaumont, where she underwent emergency surgery.
Gardai from Callan and Kilkenny started an immediate investigation, and a man was taken to Kilkenny Garda station for questioning. He was released shortly before midnight on Monday, and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardai said last night that their investigations were continuing.