Woman found unconscious in Carlow was assaulted, gardaí believe

Gardaí believe that a woman who was found injured and unconscious in Carlow town on Sunday afternoon was assaulted

The woman, who is local and aged in her early 50s, remains in a serious condition in hospital.

The woman was discovered unconscious and injured on the grounds at Pollerton Castle on the Pollerton Road on Sunday afternoon.

Gardai believe she was “accosted by somebody” between 3am and 5am and assaulted at that location, Supt Gerry Redmond told RTÉ Radio.

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The woman was taken to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny where she remains in a serious condition while the scene was preserved for a technical examination. No arrests have been made by gardaí in relation to the incident.

Supt Redmond descirbed the woman as being of very slight build with shoulder-length blonde hair. At the time of the attack she was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a bright pink top and a pair of black flip-flops, he said.

Lord Mayor of Carlow Jim Deane said “it was a horrific thing to happen”.

“Everyone is horrified that this attack has happened. It’s an incident that should not have taken place and I’d be hoping that the gardai would bring it to a fairly swift end, whoever’s involved, people or persons,” he told The Irish Times.

“This poor woman, it’s very unfortunate that she could have been so close to being killed. Hopefully she will recover. It’s very frightening for people in the Carlow area that this attack has happened.”

Mr Deane said he was hopeful “someone would have seen something” as there are a number of housing estates in the area as well as a running track and “there would be lots of people there walking around”.

Gardai are continuing to appeal for witnesses and in particular anyone who travelled on Staplestown Road, St Patrick’s Avenue or Pollerton Road between 2am and 5am on Sunday.

Gardai are also appealing to any drivers that may have travelled these roads at the same time and have footage from dash-cams to contact them at Garda Station on 059-9136620, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.