More than 40 youths were taken from Ireland's Eye, off the coast of Howth, north Dublin, early yesterday after a man was stabbed during a drunken brawl.
A group, mainly men in their late teens and early 20s, had taken boats out to the uninhabited island on Saturday. It is understood they had intended to stay overnight. However, a row broke out among the group, most of whom were drinking, shortly before 1am yesterday, during which a man in his mid-20s was stabbed.
Gardaí went to the island, one mile off the coast, in response to a call from the Dublin Coast Guard which had discovered a manned boat adrift just off the island.
The Howth inshore lifeboat brought a garda and two paramedics to the island. They picked up six people on board a 16ft boat drifting back from the island carrying the injured man.
It is understood that his friends had been trying to bring him in to Howth harbour for medical attention, but the power on the vessel failed.
The injured man was brought to Beaumont Hospital. His injuries were described as minor and he was released a short time later.
Nine other gardaí and a paramedic were brought to Ireland's Eye aboard the onshore lifeboat, which brought another 42 people back to the mainland in three trips.
No one was arrested in connection with the stabbing. However, one man was arrested on foot of an existing warrant.
Gardaí said they had not been aware he was on the island.
