THE Garda Ombudsman is investigating an allegation of assault by gardaí on a man who was found unconscious in a laneway two weeks ago.

The Dublin man at the centre of the investigation, Alan Murphy, is understood to be in a stable condition at St James' Hospital in Dublin.

The Sunday Tribune has learned that Murphy was arrested at around midnight last Saturday week in connection with an alleged public order incident inside a pub.

He was taken to Harcourt Terrace garda station where he was questioned and subsequently released from custody at around 2.30am.

A few hours later, the man was found unconscious in a nearby lane and was rushed to St James' Hospital.

The man's girlfriend subsequently made a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman Commission, which is now carrying out an investigation.

A spokesman said: "We are not in a position to comment on this because it is at an extremely early stage."

Friends of the family have claimed that the man was assaulted while in garda custody.

They have also claimed that Murphy was physically injured when gardaí originally attempted to arrest him in a city centre pub.

Garda sources said they do not believe that there is a case to answer and that Murphy's coma is not related to any alleged assault. They said there did not appear to be any physical marks on the man.

One officer said: "There would have been a certain amount of physical confrontation involved in the original arrest because of the nature of the incident involved.

"There is simply no question of him having been assaulted in custody and then dumped, which is what some people are trying to suggest.

"He was detained for a few hours until we were ready to release him and then he was let go."

The Garda Press Office declined to comment on the case and said the matter was being dealt with by the Garda Ombudsman Commission.