Ireland Assault on Dublin boardwalk under investigation with no arrests made
Jack Woolley, a 22-year-old Irish taekwondo athlete, was punched in the face by one member of a group of eight to 12 men and women in their 20s who were violently attacking people along the River Liffey boardwalk on Grattan Bridge in Dublin city centre at around 12:40am on Friday, August 13, 2021. The attacker told Woolley it was a mistake and the wrong person before the group ran off. Woolley was taken to St James's Hospital where he underwent surgery to reconstruct his completely severed upper lip. Gardaí attended the scene and a full investigation was launched with CCTV being examined. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
- Reported14 Aug
7 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jack Woolley, 22, was punched in the face by one member of a group of eight to 12 men and women in their 20s who were violently attacking people along the River Liffey boardwalk.
- The attacker told Woolley it was a mistake and the wrong person before the group ran off.
- Woolley's upper lip was completely severed and required surgical reconstruction under anaesthetic with stitches in the front and back.
- Five other people with no connection to each other were also attacked by the group at the same time in the same location.
- Where
- The assault took place on Grattan Bridge by the River Liffey boardwalk in Dublin city centre.
- When
- The incident occurred at around 12:40am on Friday, August 13, 2021.
- Investigation
- Gardaí attended the scene and a full investigation was launched with CCTV being examined.
- No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
- Other details
- Woolley was taken to St James's Hospital for treatment.
- Woolley is a 22-year-old Irish taekwondo athlete who competed at the Tokyo Olympics as Ireland's first Olympian in the sport.
- The suspect is described as a person in their 20s; no name has been given.
57 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWoolley and a friend went out for a meal before heading to a bar. (rte.ie)
- whatA group of roughly 8-12 men and women in their 20s were violently attacking people along the boardwalk. (rte.ie)
- whatWoolley was punched in the face by one of the group members. (rte.ie)
- whatWoolley was told 'my mistake wrong person' before the group ran off. (rte.ie)
- whatWoolley was able to phone an ambulance and stayed conscious. (rte.ie)
- whatJack Woolley was hospitalised after a random, unprovoked assault in Dublin City Centre (extra.ie)
- whatA group of 8-12 men and women in their 20s were violently attacking people along the boardwalk (extra.ie)
- whatWoolley was punched in the face by one member of the group (extra.ie)
- whatA gang of eight to 12 men and women in their 20s began attacking people on the boardwalk (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley was punched in the face once by a group member (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley required plastic surgery after the assault (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHours before the incident, Woolley was training with team-mates preparing for the Under-21 Europeans (dublinlive.ie)
- whatFive other people with no connection to each other were attacked at the same time in the same place (dublinlive.ie, extra.ie)
- whatThe group had been violently attacking people along the boardwalk. (extra.ie)
- whatAfter the punch, Jack was told it was a mistake and the wrong person. (extra.ie)
- whatWoolley was walking after having drinks with friends when the assault occurred (dublinlive.ie)
- whatOne attacker hit Woolley, apologised saying 'Oh sorry, wrong person', and continued on (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe group went on to assault other people on the road (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley's top lip had completely come off and required surgical reconstruction (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley was put under anaesthetic to have the wound washed out and cleaned (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley needed stitches in the front and back of his lip (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley was the first person attacked and the last put in an ambulance (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWoolley is a 22-year-old Taekwondo star who competed at the Tokyo Olympics (extra.ie)
- whatHe was hospitalised following a random, unprovoked attack (extra.ie)
- whatHe required mouth surgery after being punched in the face (extra.ie)
- whatThe gang had been violently attacking people along the boardwalk (extra.ie)
- whatA ring connected with his front teeth and busted his lip open (extra.ie)
- whatThere was a hole in his face (extra.ie)
- whatHe was the first person attacked and the last put in an ambulance (extra.ie)
- whatJack Woolley was the victim of a random, unprovoked attack in Dublin City Centre (extra.ie)
- whatWoolley required mouth surgery after the assault (extra.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on Grattan Bridge at around 12.40am. (rte.ie)
- whereWoolley is from Jobstown in Tallaght. (rte.ie)
- whereThe attack occurred along the River Liffey boardwalk (extra.ie)
- whereJack returned to his home in Tallaght after the incident. (extra.ie)
- whereThe assault took place on Grattan Bridge in Dublin city centre (extra.ie)
- whereThe assault took place by the River Liffey boardwalk (extra.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on the night of Friday 13 August while he was out socialising with a friend (extra.ie)
- whenThe unprovoked attack took place on Friday, August 13. (extra.ie)
- whenWoolley is returning to hospital on Friday to get stitches removed (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on Friday, August 13 (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí attended the scene of an assault on Grattan Bridge. (rte.ie)
- investigationNo arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing. (rte.ie)
- investigationA garda spokesperson confirmed an alleged assault is being investigated and no arrests have been made (extra.ie)
- investigationA full investigation into the attack has been launched by gardai with CCTV being examined (dublinlive.ie)
- otherWoolley was brought to St James's Hospital for treatment. (rte.ie)
- otherWoolley was Ireland's first Olympian in taekwondo. (rte.ie)
- otherWoolley was ranked eighth in the world going into the Tokyo Games. (rte.ie)
- otherWoolley lost his opening bout in the 58kg to Lucas Guzman of Argentina. (rte.ie)
- otherTD John Lahart of Fianna Fáil called for a greater garda presence in the city centre. (rte.ie)
- otherWoolley's mother is Annette Woolley (dublinlive.ie)
- otherConor McGregor tweeted his sympathy for the attack. (extra.ie)
- otherKellie Harrington expressed her sadness to Jack over the weekend. (extra.ie)
- otherJack's mother said he most likely would not have retaliated due to his disciplined taekwondo training. (extra.ie)
- otherWoolley is from Tallaght (extra.ie)
- otherKellie Harrington visited Woolley to check in on him (extra.ie)
- otherHarrington recently claimed Olympic gold in Tokyo (extra.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Aug2021Olympic hero Kellie Harrington visits Jack Woolley after gruesome Dublin City attack - Extra.ie
Reports that Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington visited Jack Woolley following his assault, and confirms he required mouth surgery after the attack by the River Liffey boardwalk.
victim, Jack Woolley, male, irish (judged from name)Jack Woolley - 17 Aug2021Olympian Jack Woolley details why violent Dublin assault 'could have been a lot worse' - Extra.ie
Woolley's first detailed account of the assault, describing his injuries (torn upper lip, hole in face, front teeth damaged by a ring) and the circumstances (punched by one member of a gang who were 'violently attacking people along the boardwalk'). He stated he was the first attacked and the last put in an ambulance.
victim, Jack Woolley, 22, male, Irish, irishJack Woolleysuspect - 17 Aug2021Horrifying second attack happened just moments after sport star Jack Woolley hit
Woolley provides more detail on the injury (upper lip completely severed, required reconstruction under anaesthetic with stitches front and back), the 'Oh sorry, wrong person' comment from the attacker, and that multiple other people were also assaulted by the same group, with Woolley being the first attacked and last put in an ambulance.
victim, Jack Woolley, 22, male, irish (judged from name)Jack Woolley - 16 Aug2021Mum of attacked Olympics star Jack Woolley says he wouldn't fight back as stars rally around - Extra.ie
Adds details from Jack Woolley's mother about the assault, confirms five other people were attacked simultaneously in the same location, and includes reactions from Conor McGregor and Kellie Harrington.
- 16 Aug2021Jack Woolley's mum says son was taught not to use skills in street fights
Mother Annette Woolley provides first-hand account of the attack, details the group of 8-12 attackers, the single punch and 'wrong person' remark, and confirms a full Garda investigation with CCTV examination is underway.
victim, Jack Woolley, 22, male, irish (judged from name)Jack Woolley - 14 Aug2021Graphic images: Irish Olympic taekwondo star hospitalised after vicious random Dublin attack - Extra.ie
Provides Jack Woolley's own Instagram account of the incident, describing a group of 8-12 men and women in their 20s who were 'violently attacking people along the boardwalk,' the single punch and the attacker's remark 'my mistake wrong person,' and confirms he was waiting in James's Hospital for mouth surgery. A garda spokesperson confirmed the investigation with no arrests.
victim, Jack Woolley, male, Irish, irishJack Woolleysuspect - 14 Aug2021Irish Olympian Jack Woolley injured in Dublin incident
Provides Woolley's own account of the incident, including the group size (8-12), the specific location (Grattan Bridge), the time (12.40am), and the remark 'my mistake wrong person.' Confirms no arrests and ongoing investigation. Includes a call from TD John Lahart for greater garda presence in the city centre.
victim, Jack Woolley, 22, male, Irish, irishJack Woolleysuspect, 20s