Charity runners pelted with stones

Participants in a charity run for suicide prevention were attacked with sticks and stones in Kilkenny.

Stones were thrown at runners and a man was hit across the back of his head with a stick in front of his young daughter in the attack, which occurred on the Ring Rd last Saturday evening.

Around 70 people were taking part in the 12km of Christmas run when the incident took place.

Ger Griffin, who organised the event in aid of two suicide prevention charities, said the runners were attacked by a group of men, some armed with sticks.

“There were a group of young men, four or five of them walking a horse between the Callan Rd roundabout and the Kells Rd roundabout,” said Mr Griffin. “They were verbally abusing runners and were smacking the horse to get him to jump out in front of the runners in an attempt to block them.”

Mr Griffin described how the participants in the charity run were chased by the attackers, pelted with stones, and attacked with sticks.

“They ran after some of the runners and threw stones at one woman, who was hit on the head,” he said. “Another man who was taking part in the event with his 9-year-old daughter was hit with a stick on the back of the head.

“The matter was immediately reported to gardaí and all the runners successfully completed the race. Every night since, more and more people have come out to run and it’s great to see the determination and commitment.”

- mycharity.ie/events/12kmsofchristmas