STABBED TO DEATH AFTER ROW AT PARTY
David, 34, knifed repeatedly as gardai launch hunt for murderer
A DAD was stabbed to death after a Halloween night party ended in tragedy.
David Boland, 34, was knifed repeatedly in Athy, Co Kildare, at 5.30am yesterday.
Sources said a fight broke out at a property where a house party had taken place. One added: “Up to six people were there and witnessed what happened. A man had a row with David, he had a knife and repeatedly stabbed him in the torso, possibly four or five times.
“Gardai are following a definite line of inquiry and they believe they have identified the man who carried out the murder.
“The victim died a short time later and the attacker is
suspected of taking David’s car and making attempts to burn it out a short time later.” The wanted man is believed to be in his early 20s.
Mr Boland was originally from the nearby village of Nurney and was a successful local businessman involved in building agricultural sheds.
Athy Mayor and friend Cllr Martin Miley said yesterday: “My thoughts and prayers go out to the man’s family, there were over a thousand people out for the fireworks and festivities.
“It’s devastating for something like this to happen on what should have been a night of celebration.”
Cllr Miley said the town is devastated by the murder of the father of one, who was also a keen motorcyclist.
He added: “I know David and I know his family very well from the wider community here in Athy. It is an extreme tragedy for the family themselves and the community.
“He was a very well-liked man and was running a successful business. He was from a hard-working family – there is total devastation.
“Here in Athy we had a big celebration of Halloween. We didn’t have bonfires and instead had a parade down the town organised by the town’s people and the council.
“To wake up this morning and hear of this tragedy – of a young life taken. It just beggars belief.
“The town is devastated from it – a young man, a young family. If anyone knows or anyone has any information please come forward, we need justice for what happened.”
Supt Martin Walker of Kildare Garda station appealed for help in tracking down the killer. He said: “There appears to have been a row in the vicinity of Duke Street, the investigation is at an early stage and there are certain elements which we still have to follow up.
“The vehicle owned by the injured party, a silver Audi, was taken from the scene at approximately 5.30am by a person or persons unknown.
“It was brought to the back of the Garda station where it was burnt out and is still [being] preserved.
“We are appealing to anyone who has any information as to who was driving this vehicle or saw it in transit from the scene of the murder to where it is now abandoned.
“I have every confidence that members of the public in Athy will come forward and assist us.”
The superintendent asked that a group who were at the scene come forward to help.
He said: “There was a house party within the local vicinity but it appears that he [the victim] just arrived.
“There were a group of young men in the vicinity of where the assault took place and they quickly disappeared from the scene following the stabbing.
“We’re appealing to those individuals to come forward and engage with us and to explain to us what they were doing there or if they have any evidence to tender towards this investigation.”