'Oh my God, she's hitting her head'- Young woman 'critical' after violent roadside attack

A still from a video, which has been widely shared on the social media, of the shocking incident

placeholder image — A still from a video, which has been widely shared on the social media, of the shocking incident

The 22-second-long clip of the shocking incident has been shared widely on social media

CHILLING footage has emerged of a vicious assault on a young mother on Saturday last.

Scarlett Faulkner, aged in her 20s, is in a critical condition in Cork University Hospital after she sustained serious head injuries in the horrific attack. It took place at the side on the R494 road in Birdhill on Saturday evening.

The 22-second-long clip, shared widely on social media, appears to have been taken by a concerned member of the public travelling as a passenger in a car on the road at that time.

It shows a van and a car stopped at the side of the road. At the van, one man, armed with an axe, approaches a woman from behind as if to hit her with the axe but doesn’t strike her. The video shows him grabbing her by her top and pulling her.

The mobile phone then pans to the roadway ahead and to an individual on the opposite side of the road to where the van and car were parked.

The individual is lying motionless on the slow lane while an unidentified female can be seen striking her with an implement, as another person stands beside her.

The person capturing the footage from the vehicle passing by can be heard taking a deep gasp as she sees the scene and uttering the words, “Oh my God, she's hitting her head”.

An Garda Siochana has been contacted for comment.

Members of the Faulkner family, from the northside of Limerick city, have appealed for prayers to be said for Scarlett's recovery.