A 54-year-old man has been charged in connection with an attack on an elderly woman at a nursing home in the midlands last night.
A man entered the residential home by a back door and attacked a woman in her 80s in her room.
She was struck a number of times and gardaí believe an attempt was made to asphyxiate her.
Nursing staff heard the commotion and came to her aid.
The woman was seriously injured during the incident and taken to hospital where she is still being treated.
Staff and other patients at the nursing home have been severely traumatised by the incident.
The man was arrested at the scene and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at a garda station in the midlands.
He was questioned last night and today and charged with assault this evening.
The man is due to appear at the district court in Athlone tomorrow morning.
