A local woman is calling out for witnesses to help her family find the man who attacked her grandfather in Letterkenny last weekend.

The attack took place in Letterkenny Town Centre on Saturday

A 77 year old pensioner was punched in the face in a horrific road rage attack. The man, who is from Manorcunningham, was brutally assaulted in his car close to the Polestar Roundabout in Letterkenny on Saturday afternoon last.

The man’s grand-daughter has launched a public appeal for witnesses to come forward and help Gardai bring the criminal to justice.

The elderly had just carried out his grocery shopping in the local ALDI store on the Neil T Blaney Road and was returning home when he heard someone sounding their car horn behind him.

The man thought it was someone he knew and went to speak to the man. However, when he realised they did not know each other, words were exchanged.

The pensioner got into his car but seconds later his car door was opened and the other driver, a man in his 30s, punched him in the face. The force of the punch sent the pensioner sprawling across the car and he fell into the passenger seat.

His attacker drove off at speed and a number of other motorists came to the man’s aid.

It is understood that two young men in their 20s may have caught the incident on their phones.

The pensioner’s grand-daughter said he went to casualty at Letterkenny University Hospital where it was initially suspected he had suffered a broken jaw.

She said she just cannot understand how anybody could attack any person in a car, let alone a pensioner aged 77 years.

The attack occurred close to the Polestar Roundabout in Letterkenny

“I just cannot understand how a human being could do this to someone. My grandfather has been left stunned by this. Nobody deserves what happened to him.”

“He went to hospital and they initially thought that he had broken his jaw. Thankfully it was not broken but he is badly bruised all around his mouth and hasn’t eaten since last Saturday,” revealed the man’s grand-daughter.

The incident has been reported to Gardai and they are due to interview the man shortly.

Gardai have appealed for any witnesses to the alleged incident to contact them at Letterkenny Garda station.