Man knocked unconscious, two arrested, tractor stolen in string of incidents in Kilkenny
Gardai are investigating a string of Christmas Day incidents in the Paulstown area of County Kilkenny.
A statement said gardaí received report of the unauthorized taking of a tractor from farmland in the Ballygurteen area of Paulstown at about 8pm.
The tractor was involved in a single vehicle road traffic collision a short time later.
Gardai say a man aged in his 50s suffered head injuries when he was assaulted by a number of individuals in a second separate incident in the Ballygurteen area following the attempted unauthorised taking of a car.
The man was taken to St Luke's Hospital Kilkenny for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The statement from Garda HQ said that in a third separate incident in the Ballygurteen area a man was discovered in an unconscious state with head injuries.
The man, aged in his 60s, was taken to St Lukes Hospital where his injuries are described as serious.
A statement issued by garda HQ on St Stephen's Day said two men, both aged in their early 30s, were arrested in relation to these incidents and were detained at Thomastown and Kilkenny Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
While investigations are ongoing, gardaí are appealing for anyone with information that can assist with this investigation to come forward.
They especially want to hear from any road users who were in the Ballygurteen/Paulstown area of Kilkenny between 8pm and 11pm on December 25, and who may have camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make this available to Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Thomastown Garda Station on 056 775 4150, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.