Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to an alleged assault that took place in Kilkenny City on Monday evening.
At about 6pm a man was sitting on a bench at Canal Walk when he was approached by another person who asked him for a cigarette.
That person proceeded to punch the man a number of times.
Customers queuing outside a nearby shop intervened and the suspect fled the scene.
Gardai are now looking for anybody who saw anything to contact them on 056 777 5000.