Two arrested over Birdhill assault

As part of the investigation into a serious assault that occurred on the R494 at Birdhill, on Saturday 21st March 2026, gardaí have arrested two females, this morning Thursday 26th March.

An adult female in her 40s and a juvenile female in her teens are both detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at garda stations in Co Tipperary.

The incident occurred close to the Applegreen service station on the R494 shortly before 5.30pm last Saturday. The victim of the assault, named locally as Scarlett Faulkner, was airlifted first to University Hospital Limerick, then to Cork University Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

Ms Faulkner, who is in her 20s and a member of the Traveller community from Limerick city, is the mother of a six-year-old daughter. It is understood that two individuals were involved in the assault and that other people were present at the time.

Having completed a technical examination of the scene, gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them. Any road users who were on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5pm and 6pm last Saturday and may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

In particular, gardaí are seeking information on the movements of two vehicles, a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran people carrier, travelling in convoy or driving dangerously between 4.30pm and 5.30pm in and around Birdhill village, the townlands of Cooleen, Crag Cross, Shower Cross, Kylebeg, Annaholty and Thornhill, all in Co Tipperary.

Gardaí are aware of video footage of the incident circulating online and ask members of the public not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to investigating gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.