Two 18-year-old men have appeared before Dublin District Court charged with assaulting a 17-year-old girl and her friend in Ballyfermot last week.

Gardaí from Clondalkin conducted a number of searches yesterday morning and arrested the two.

They have both been remanded on bail and will be back before the court again on 1 April, RTÉ legal affairs correspondent Orla O'Donnell reported this afternoon.

The teenage girl and her friend who were assaulted cannot be named as they are under 18 and proceedings are now active before the courts.

Both victims suffered serious injuries in the assaults, which happened at around 9.40pm on the night of 30 December.

Darragh Lyons from Weir View, Glenaulin in Chapelizod in Dublin was charged with assaulting causing harm to the girl. He made no reply to the charge. The court was told he had no previous convictions and had tried to hand himself in in relation to this matter, but was arrested by gardaí at his home. He was granted legal aid for the case as he is currently unemployed.

18-year-old Jack Cummins of Rossmore Road in Ballyfermot was charged with assaulting the girl's male friend.

His solicitor said he wanted the court to know it was not alleged that he had caused the injuries suffered by the young woman, which may have resulted in permanent sight loss in one eye.

Gardaí did not object to bail for either man, subject to strict conditions, including a night-time curfew and a condition that they are to have no contact with witnesses or the injured parties.

Gardaí at Ballyfermot yesterday appealed for witnesses who may not yet have come forward and in particular, motorists who may have dash cam footage from Ballyfermot Road between approximately 9.15 pm and 10 pm on December 30 to contact them at Ballyfermot Garda Station 6667200 or the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111.