Assessment on teenage stab suspect

A YOUNG teenager suspected of stabbing a grandmother yesterday morning is due to under-go psychiatric assessment today.

The 65-year-old victim received a number of knife wounds but was yesterday said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

She was stabbed with a kitchen knife while lying in bed at her home in the village of Athboy, Co Meath, shortly after 2am yesterday.

It is understood the youth was staying over in the house at the time with friends.

Gardaí were last night saying little and stressed it was a sensitive investigation.

They did confirm that the woman had been repeatedly stabbed and that they received a call at 2.30am alerting them to the attack.

A Garda spokesman said the woman received treatment at Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, Co Louth, and was described as being in a “stable condition”.

The spokesman added: “Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry and are not appealing for witnesses at this stage.”

It is understood that gardaí recovered a kitchen knife used in the attack at the scene. It has been taken away for forensic and DNA examination.

The teenager was brought to Our Lady’s Hospital. He had suffered some minor injuries.

He has not been arrested but is under garda supervision.

He is due to undergo a psychiatric assessment this morning. Garda sources said he may be admitted to a mental hospital.

His parents were alerted following the incident.

Gardaí do not believe alcohol or illegal drugs were a factor in the attack.