Ireland Dancer blinded in one eye in Limerick attack, gardaí appeal for witnesses
On Saturday 28 March 2026 at about 10.30am, a man allegedly attacked Tobi Omoteso, a Limerick hip hop artist and dancer, with a bat on the Old Cratloe Road in Limerick City, smashing his car window. Omoteso says he has lost sight in one eye, and the incident has been described as a road rage attack. No arrest, charge or court appearance has been reported. On 9 April 2026, a GoFundMe page for Omoteso had raised close to €70,000, and gardaí were still appealing for witnesses and footage.
- Reported31 Mar
3 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Tobi Omoteso, a Limerick hip hop artist and dancer, says he has been blinded in one eye.
- The sources say a motorist forced his way in front of Omoteso's car.
- A man in his 30s was hospitalised with serious injuries and treated at St John's Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.
- Where
- The incident occurred in the Old Cratloe Road area of Limerick City.
- When
- The incident occurred on Saturday 28 March 2026 at about 10.30am.
- Cause
- The incident has been described as a road rage attack, and Omoteso says the man chose him after a brief exchange of gestures in an estate.
- Weapon
- The man allegedly struck the driver's side window with a bat, described as a baseball bat in one report and a wooden bat in another.
- Other details
- Omoteso says he faces a series of surgeries, starting with the first of four major emergency operations.
- A GoFundMe page for Omoteso had raised over €30,000 by 31 March and close to €70,000 by 9 April.
- Investigation
- Gardaí received a report of an alleged assault and criminal damage and say their investigations are ongoing.
- Gardaí appealed for witnesses in the Shannonvale estate, Old Cratloe Road and Brookville Avenue between 10am and 11am, and for anyone who saw a VW Golf or has video or dash-cam footage.
- Charges
- No arrest, charge or court appearance has been reported.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim was blinded in one eye. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatA motorist forced his way in front of the victim's car. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatGardaí are appealing for witnesses to an alleged serious assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatTobi Omoteso has been left blinded in one eye after a violent attack in broad daylight on the outskirts of the city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe man struck and shattered the driver's side window of Omoteso's car with the bat. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA male aged in his 30s sustained serious injuries and was treated at St John's Hospital and University Hospital Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe attack took place in the Old Cratloe Road area of Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe assault happened in the Old Cratloe Road area of Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe attack occurred in the Old Cratloe Road area of Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on Saturday 28 March 2026 at about 10.30am. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on Saturday, 28 March. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe incident took place at around 10.30am. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on Saturday, March 28 at approximately 10.30am. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeThe incident was described as a road rage attack. (limerickpost.ie)
- causeOmoteso says the man chose him after a brief exchange of gestures in the estate. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponThe attacker was armed with a wooden bat. (limerickpost.ie)
- weaponThe man involved was armed with a wooden bat. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí received a report of an alleged incident of assault and criminal damage. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí said their investigations are ongoing. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí want witnesses in the Shannonvale estate, Old Cratloe Road or Brookville Avenue between 10am and 11am on 28 March to come forward. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí are interested in anyone who interacted with or saw a VW Golf car in the area at the time. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating the incident and have appealed for witnesses. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí want anyone in the area with video or dash-cam footage to come forward. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí are interested in anyone who interacted with or saw a VW Golf car in the area. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe victim's GoFundMe account has raised more than €30,000. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherA man in his 30s was left hospitalised with his injuries. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherOmoteso says he has lost sight in one eye and faces a long series of surgeries. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherOmoteso says he is facing the first of four major emergency operations. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherA GoFundMe page for Omoteso had raised close to €70,000 towards medical expenses. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Apr2026Almost €70,000 fundraised for dancer blinded in horror attack in Limerick
Adds the victim's own account of the attack, his injuries and planned surgeries, a fundraising total of close to €70,000, and a garda appeal for witnesses and footage. No arrest or suspect is named, and no existing case in the list matches this incident.
victim, Tobi Omoteso, male, non-irish (judged from name)Tobi Omotesosuspect, male - 6 Apr2026Gardaí appeal for witnesses to serious assault in Limerick City
Gardaí's witness appeal for the 10.30am assault on the Old Cratloe Road. Adds that the victim is a man in his 30s and was hospitalised, names the witness search area (Shannonvale estate, Old Cratloe Road, Brookville Avenue, 10am to 11am), and says gardaí want information on a VW Golf. Does not name the victim or any suspect.
victim, 30s, male - 31 Mar2026Gardaí investigating after Limerick hip hop artist partially blinded in road attack
Adds the victim's account of his injuries and expected surgeries, the attacker's alleged conduct before the assault, the Garda statement on the report, and the GoFundMe total of over €30,000.
victim, Tobi Omoteso, male, non-irish (judged from name)Tobi Omotesosuspect, male