Three men arrested over a stabbing which left another man fighting for his life have been released without charge.
Gardaí said a file on the case was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The attack took place at Love Lane, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny on Saturday evening.
When gardaí arrived at scene at a house, the injured man was bleeding in the street.
Paramedics administered emergency treatment to him before he was taken by ambulance to St Luke’s General Hospital.
The victim, aged 22, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Gardaí believe he had been stabbed in a course of an altercation involving a number of men, at least some of whom were still at the scene when gardaí arrived.
The arrested men were aged in their 30s and 40s.
Gardaí renewed their appeal for witnesses.
PA