Murder probe launched into Halloween night stabbing

A MURDER investigation has been launched into the death of David Boland, a fatherof-three who was stabbed to death on Halloween night in Co. Kildare.

The 34-year-old died from stab wounds sustained in an assault in the early hours of Thursday in Athy.

Mr Boland was stabbed multiple times after a row broke out on Duke Street in the town at approximately 5.30am yesterday. He was taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise where he later died from his injuries.

Gardaí say that his car, a silver Audi, was taken from the scene of the assault and was later found partially burned out on Woodstock Street in Athy.

Senior sources told the Irish Daily Mail that the father-of-three had been stabbed four times during the assault.

The victim was from the Nurney area of Co. Kildare.

Yesterday, gardaí preserved the scene of the stabbing on Duke Street pending a forensic examination.

They also preserved a second scene on the nearby Stradbally Road area where the victim’s crashed and partially burnedout Audi car was discovered by investigating officers.

Members of the Garda’s technical bureau could be seen gathering forensic evidence yesterday, including blood stains on the wall and door of a shop on Duke Street.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Redmond said that there was a deep sense of shock in the area following the death.

‘Athy is a vibrant town and a murder like this is very shocking.

‘It’s very sad for the family concerned and my deepest condolences and sympathies are with the man’s family tonight,’ he said.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward and have said that they are following ‘several lines of inquiry’.

Detectives are making a particular appeal to a group of young men who were at the scene and left soon after the attack.

CCTV footage is also being examined as part of the investigation.

Local Garda Superintendent Martin Walker yesterday described the attack as ‘shocking’.

The Garda investigation is ongoing.