Man held after woman is ‘left for dead’ in castle grounds

A WELL-KNOWN petty criminal was in custody last night following an attack which sources say left the female victim ‘for dead’ in Carlow last weekend.

Gardaí have obtained CCTV footage of the woman, in her 50s, ‘being dragged’ by a man in his 30s into Pollerton Castle on Sunday. This CCTV directly led to an arrest. The woman was ‘seriously and severely’ attacked.

She is said to have not known her attacker, who dragged the woman into the park as she walked home after going to the local shop.

The victim was found unconscious and injured on the grounds of Pollerton Castle on Sunday afternoon.

It is understood she was assaulted in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A senior source said: ‘The victim is beyond traumatised. The severity of what happened is almost indescribable.’

It is understood that the man in custody is well known to gardaí and has addresses in both Carlow and Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. He has numerous convictions, mostly for public order and other relatively minor offences.

He once cited significant mental health issues as a reason for failing to appear in court.

A senior source said: ‘This is an individual who is well known to Garda officers. But predominantly for lowlevel issues. The severity of this attack, it is not something this man would have been ever suspected of.

‘The victim was essentially left for dead.’ The man is being detained at Carlow Garda Station. Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses who travelled along Staplestown Road, St Patrick’s Avenue or Pollerton Road on Sunday between 2am and 5am.