‘When I heard glass breaking, I was terrified... it was thuggery’
A KILKENNY councillor was left ‘terrified’ when his home and van were vandalised on Thursday night – but he has vowed he ‘will not leave’ or be intimidated.
The home of Independent councillor Eugene McGuinness, who lives in Kilkenny city, was attacked at about 8.05pm.
A section of his front windows was smashed, along with a glass panel in his primary entrance door, as well as windows, lights and back doors in his van, which was parked at the front of the property in a housing estate.
Mr McGuinness was at home alone at the time, and his adult
‘I’m not afraid to speak out’
children were not present as thousands of euro worth of damage was caused.
The councillor’s one-year-old van was badly damaged.
Mr McGuinness, who is self-employed, said: ‘Luckily I wasn’t injured but I was only seconds away from where I could have been attacked as I was about to go out.
‘I’m 33 years a councillor and nothing like this has ever happened to me before
‘When I heard the sound of glass breaking I tried to see what was happening but thought the best thing was to get to safety at the back of the house, and, of course, I was terrified. These thugs and criminals knew exactly what they were doing and knew where I live, in a cul-de-sac in an old council estate. It was such a vicious attack and, of course, it doesn’t make you feel secure.’
The 63-year-old pointed out that he has never been afraid to call out issues and said that ‘I do so in a respectful way’.
He added: ‘Justice Minister Simon Harris said that TDs should be treated with respect and dignity and that should be extended to councillors and other political representatives. How many more Eugene McGuinnesses are there out there and experiencing such violence?
‘I’m not afraid to speak out about what’s happened as this was well-planned thuggery. I won’t be leaving my home.’
Several people are understood to have been involved in the attack. Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating an incident at a residence on the city’s outskirts on Thursday night.