Fatal stabbing suspect in hospital

Gardaí were last night hoping to question a man about a double stabbing in an apartment block which left one man dead and another in hospital.

The man who died as a result of stab wounds sustained in an apartment at Larchfield Court, Kilkenny, was named locally as Kieran Monahan, 21, originally from Durrow, Co Laois.

The chief suspect, who was arrested in the vicinity of the murder scene and initially brought to the garda station in Kilkenny, had to be hospitalised himself as a result of “non-life threatening” head injuries sustained during the incident. Gardaí said last night he will be brought back to the station once released from hospital.

A 27-year-old man from Castlecomer in Co Kilkenny was being treated in hospital for stab injuries, which were also described as “non-life threatening”.

The incidents occurred after 1am yesterday at the Larchfield estate in Kilkenny city. It is believed there may have been a party in one of the apartments and the stabbings occurred when a row got out of hand.

Gardaí and ambulance services were called just before 1.30am by a member of the public. The two men were brought to St Luke’s Hospital but Mr Monahan died some time later as a result of his injuries.

The family of the deceased live in Erkindale Drive, a quiet residential area, in Durrow. “It’s a sad story, sad for everyone involved,” said one man who knows the Monahan family.