Gardaí in Tipperary are investigating what is believed to be the first instance in the county of a "happy slapping" attack when up to 12 youths attacked an 18-year-old man in Nenagh over the weekend.
Members of the gang, which is believed to have included at least one girl, attacked the teenager, kicking and punching him in the head and body while other assailants videophoned the incident.
The youth, who has just returned from England with his family, was set upon at about 1am on Sunday after leaving a local nightclub. A doctor and another man came to the aid of the youth and brought him to Nenagh hospital where he was treated for facial injuries but later released.
Fears have been expressed that the attack is connected to a phenomenon known as "happy slapping", which is spreading throughout Britain and Ireland.
Following an attack the resulting short videos or photographs of the assault are circulated among friends and acquaintances of the perpetrators and sometimes also on the internet.
The point of the assault is often not to injure the victim or to steal anything from them, but rather to humiliate and terrify him or her.
Nenagh-based Supt Catherine Kehoe, said gardaí were investigating the matter and were treating the incident as "extremely serious".
"I can confirm that the matter is being investigated and that statements have been taken. We are taking a very serious view of this incident and will be pursuing it to the finish."
Supt Kehoe added that she had not heard of the new 'happy slapping' phenomenon, but confirmed she would be bringing the incident to the attention of her fellow gardaí.