Vicious attack on Castle Road

kleefarr

A Taxi driver told me yesterday, that there was a murder, stabbing, on Castle Road friday night. I saw that the Garda have it roped off. Didn't know who it was. Did anyone hear anything?

Stephen

I heard it was a rape, rather than a murder. Didn't hear any other details though.

Nightwish

it was a rape and stabbing in Castle Gardens, why its not in the national news I dont know.

finlma

It was a brutal attack. I know the girl it happened to and she was unrecognisable after. Every time she tried to speak he kicked her in the face - I hope the sick f***er is caught.
The girl had just had a fight with her boyfriend and stormed off before it happend. Imagine how he feels.

I had the thread title changed by a mod.

Jesper

Hope she is ok.
And that they catch the f****r.
What age of a girl was she?
Was it Castle Rd. as in the Parade? Where abouts is Castle Gardens?

Nightwish

shes around the same age as me...which makes every female in town worried about their safety in this town at night.

Castle Gardens is behind the doctors surgery on the castle road

HST

Nightwish wrote:

shes around the same age as me...which makes every female in town worried about their safety in this town at night.

In all fairness Kilkenny isn't the safest places of places to be walking alone at night. It could have happened to anyone. Everyone should be always on the look out when they are walking alone at night.

Nightwish

HST wrote:

In all fairness Kilkenny isn't the safest places of places to be walking alone at night. It could have happened to anyone. Everyone should be always on the look out when they are walking alone at night.

I ALWAYS walk home at night rather than queue for a taxi, I'm usually home quicker too. Anyway this type of incident isnt exactly commonplace in the town, so its just frightening that Kilkenny has become such an unsafe place.

finlma

She's in her early 20s.
Crime in KK seems to have increased an awful lot in the last year. I know everyone will be more cautious over Christmas now but its not nice knowing there is someone like that on the loose.

HST

Nightwish, I have no problem with walking home at night I often do it myself. All I am saying is that you have to be vigilant when doing so. Also it's common sense that there is just some places that you don't go at night.

To say crime is on the increase is just idiotic in my opinion. These is just a more horrible crime. Crime has always been in Kilkenny whether it was some idiot urinating against a wall or the tragedy that happened up the Castle road.

finlma

HST wrote:

Also it's common sense that there is just some places that you don't go at night.

I would never have considered the Castle Road to be a dangerous part of Kilkenny.

HST wrote:

To say crime is on the increase is just idiotic in my opinion.

4 houses have been broken into in my parents estate in the last month and no one has ever broken in in the past. 1 of the houses belongs to an ex-guard. Crime is definitely getting worse.

Jesper

Serious crime is getting worst. A couple years back things got very dangerous around town with two different areas of the town warring against each other. There was a lot of bad people around. Things had got better but are sadly getting worst again.
My parents house was robbed a few years back while everyone was inside. There was a spate of robberies in the area that night. They come in groups like that. Although its thought all these robberies were from people from northern counties who come for raids. We now lock all the downstairs doors and had to replace windows to make them more secure.
Afraid its the way things are going.

lazygit

finlma wrote:

I would never have considered the Castle Road to be a dangerous part of Kilkenny.

i grew up in kilkenny, lived there until i was 21, i remember as a kid my mother alsways telling me to walk home via patrick st, and not the castle road as it was dangerous... (im from loughboy and those of you from kilkenny will know you can go both ways to get there)

Hmm_Messiah

ye we were always told to go Patrick street way (to larchfield). Partly at the time Castle road was lit dreadfully and the trees were untended, and also the back part of castle was closed off, and there were "STORIES" of undesirables lurking there. (I also have a vague memory of some talk of a local lad attacking people on the road)

I guess its safer on the castle side, no dark alcoves etc, castle gardens is a very quiet place with two entrances/exits, best to avoid int he dark me thinks.

Not that any one should have to factor in "attacks" on which path they take home

HST, you are a new poster, maybe you don't realise saying certain things are "idiotic" = calling posters idiotic. And in this instance you are wrong, Kilkenny is presently going thro an increased level of crime. hopefully it will die down again. Overall I think considering the amount of late night activity in town things are pretty good.

Nightwish

I lived in Larchfield all my life up until 2 years ago, and I always walked home by the Castle Rd. I never considered it dangerous. And of course vigilance is a given when walking anywhere at night, but to live in fear of someone like this is wrong.

finlma

They spoke about the attack on Crimeline last night. Apparently the attacker was around 5ft 9", blondish hair and well built. The attack happened between 2:30-3:00 on Saturday morning.

Cabaal

finlma wrote:

They spoke about the attack on Crimeline last night. Apparently the attacker was around 5ft 9", blondish hair and well built. The attack happened between 2:30-3:00 on Saturday morning.

In fairness I don't think any girl should be walking around town on her own at that time at night, she wasn't exactly looking out for her own safety.

In saying that, I hope they catch the bastard

finlma

Link to story in the Kilkenny People

Ravage1616

A bit shocked when i heard this myself! Kilkenny has got worse last few years!

thetourist

Cabaal wrote:

In fairness I don't think any girl should be walking around town on her own at that time at night, she wasn't exactly looking out for her own safety.

In saying that, I hope they catch the bastard

the story i heard was from a dad of a friend of hers and aparently she had gotten a taxi from a party to somewhere a group of people she knew were but when she got there she couldnt get their attention so she decided to walk back to the party to stay there instead.

Stephen

I heard a rumour today that a guy suspected of this is after committing suicide, anyone hear anything along these lines?

kleefarr

Not heard anything. But then I haven't been listening to any local news recently. Is that where you heard about it?

kleefarr

finlma wrote:

It was a brutal attack. I know the girl it happened to and she was unrecognisable after. Every time she tried to speak he kicked her in the face - I hope the sick f***er is caught.
The girl had just had a fight with her boyfriend and stormed off before it happend. Imagine how he feels.

I had the thread title changed by a mod.

My God what a bastard! I hope she will be okay, but after something like that
it must be difficult. God bless her.

No prob with the title change.

Stephen

Heard it from my ma today, dunno where she got it from.

Ravage1616

two different people have told me this as well! could be true!!

Nightwish

I heard it too...but thats all it is..a rumour...and the dead cant defend themselves

Ravage1616

And know one thinks of the family that just lost a loved one, all they need is this rumour goin around the city!

Lump

English?

John

Hmm_Messiah

Seems to be an update on this in the Kilkenny Voice

Without wanting to exploit what is in so many ways a tragic situation

1. I remember the chap named from when I was a Scout leader, he was a friend of some of my scouts and he was a bubbly funny friendly guy.

2. I doubt, but would hope, that some person might hear the story , and realise that they themselves need to deal with alcohol in some way. To some extent it has contributed to a brutal assault and an unneccesary death. I have considerable experience of people with drink problems, and while I'd like to blame them for their actions, experience had made me too aware, that like any drug, it can override the humanity and personality of any person.

3. It looks to me like that newspaper had a cover page to "push" itself as the newspaper to buy. I know thats how the media works, that its a business, but I wonder will they grow to regret it, or the manner it was published at least

4. Personally I think the article/photo is obscene. They have forensic evidence to prove this? The Kilkenny Voice is now a judical body? Have they a distorted sense of justice where they can make claims about a person unable to defend himself or respond? Accepting the proof is there (I'm sure they've covered themselves legally, and anyways you can't defame the dead) what purpose does it serve to publish the news in this fashion ? I can't for an instant believe the victim of the attack finds some comfort in it. The Garda could simply of informed her of the situation. And the public informed that the culprit is no longer "at large"

5. The tragedy of suicide needs to be tackled with. While here a specific cause could be indentified, its sad that any person feels so overwhelmed by events/actions that they can't continue living. Imagining a great guilt over the hurt caused to a person (I understand this was out of character entirely) what happened was more hurt was caused to his own family and firends, enduring as long as that girls trauma and memory, and of course his potential ends so early. It's very sad.

Nightwish

Incredibly insensitive article in the KK Voice IMO...local papers shouldnt reduce to the levels of tabloids

finlma

I'm not living in KK any more and the Voice isn't on-line. Can someone summarise what was said?

Hmm_Messiah

They said that forensic evidence proved that a young man (named) who died recently was the attacker of the girl in the castle Gardens. There was an enormous headline and a blown up photo of the chap which was more maybe a third of the whole page.

The photo had been sent in for the previous weeks memoriam notice, and they had not asked permission to use it.

Overall the article was poorly written, but then what cold you except form a "journalist" who seems able only to reminisce about his childhood and elderly neighbours is some naive way that makes Peig Sayers a Beckett

I can't remember the headline as I don't buy the paper. As i understand it the newspaper hasn't apologised, with Mr Rhatigan ranting on constantly that he's a journalist.

It would be appropriate if those disapproving of the "editorial decison" demonstrated their disapproval buy not buying the rag.

Nightwish

The Headline said "Forensic Evidence Proves (Name) Was Castle Gardens Attacker", with a huge picture of the person, as Hmmm Messiah said. It sickened me how the article went on to say this persons family were left deeply hurt by the tragedy...as if a tacky local paper headline naming thier son was going to help them.

Lump

What was the Attackers name?

John

yer_man

Lump wrote:

What was the Attackers name?

John

Please !!!!!. Has the Kilkenny thread suddenly become the "Gossip and Innuendo Thread" ? Even sadder to see a Moderator (who should know better) getting involved in this. This thread should be closed immediately !!!

Lump

Well if it was printed in the paper. I just wanted to know. If I was in Kilkenny I'd buy the paper.

OMFG!!! LOCK IT NOW!

John

Lump

It's ok, two people PM'd me the name.

John

finlma

yer_man wrote:

Please !!!!!. Has the Kilkenny thread suddenly become the "Gossip and Innuendo Thread" ? Even sadder to see a Moderator (who should know better) getting involved in this. This thread should be closed immediately !!!

There's no innuendo or gossip on this thread. Its fact.

EKRIUQ

The People had none if it, and I'm sure this will effect the opinion of the voice in Kilkenny. I think I knew the guy years ago, was he 28 or oder around 30 or 31

HST

Did anyone read Enda McEvoy's page today in voice this week? Much respect to the man. To sum it up, he basically said that voice could have handled the story a lot better. Doesn't change the fact that Jimmy Rhatagin messed up big time.