A teenage girl was “chased and assaulted” by a gang in north Dublin on Sunday – before a Good Samaritan thankfully came to her aid.

Playwright David Gilna shared online that he was walking to the pub to watch the football on Sunday afternoon in Swords when “a young girl ran toward me screaming for help with blood all over her face”. Mr Gilna said the girl “had been chased and assaulted by a gang of both boys and girls and was clearly terrified”.

He stayed with the girl and said he was approached by the “gang of about 20”, and told them to go away. He then walked the girl to Swords Garda Station.

“The young girl was worried as they began to follow us, I reassured her she has nothing to fear as they were just a bunch of cowards, as we came closer to the station, they all scarpered,” Mr Gilna said. “The Gardaí were outstanding, and I left her in safe hands.

“I don’t know her name, but the fear and blood on her face will stay with me and that bunch of cowards chasing a young girl, I don’t know any of the circumstances but I know my civic responsibility. What’s stayed with me tonight is a simple thought, if no one had stopped, what could have happened. She was just a child.

“We all have a responsibility to look out for one another, especially the young, vulnerable and elderly in our community. I’m thinking of that brave girl tonight and hoping she’s safe and supported now by her family. If this was your daughter, niece, or sister, you’d hope someone would step in. Today, I was just grateful to be there, at the right time.”

A garda spokesperson told Dublin Live: “Gardaí received report of an alleged incident of assault in Swords, Co. Dublin, that occurred on Sunday 25th January 2026 at approximately 4.30pm.

“A female aged in her teens received injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. Investigations are ongoing.”

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