Men assaulted and tractor stolen and crashed in Irish village Christmas night of crime

The Christmas crime spree saw a tractor stolen and crashed, two men assaulted and the attempted taking of a car.

Gardai are investigating a number of separate incidents that happened in a Kilkenny village on Christmas day.

The Christmas crime spree saw a tractor stolen and crashed, two men assaulted and the attempted taking of a car.

Two men, both aged in their early 30s, have been arrested in relation to these separate incidents and gardai have issued an appeal for witnesses.

The events unfolded around 8pm on Christmas day when gardai received a report of the unauthorised taking of a tractor from farmland in the Ballygurteen area of Paulstown. The tractor was involved in a single vehicle crash a short time later.

In a second separate incident, also in the Ballygurteen area, a man aged in his 50s suffered head injuries when he was assaulted by a group following the attempted taking of a car. He was taken to St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

In a third separate incident, in the Ballygurteen area again, a man was found unconscious with head injuries. The man, aged in his 60s, was taken to St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny, where his injuries are described as serious.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardai are investigating a number of incidents that occurred in the Paulstown area of Co. Kilkenny yesterday evening, Sunday, 25th December 2022.

“Gardai are appealing for anyone with information that can assist with this investigation to come forward.

“Any road users who were in the Ballygurteen/Paulstown area of Kilkenny between 8.00pm and 11:00pm on the 25th December 2022, and who may have camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make this available to gardai.

“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.