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Violent stabbing in Cavan

Fears of gang resurgence

Friends of the man who was stabbed want garda patrols 24 hours a day.

Violent activity returned to the streets of Cavan town on Sunday evening when a man was viciously set upon in the Connolly Street area and stabbed with a knife by four young men. Gardaí are investigating the incident.

While leading members of the TCRG (believed to stand for The Cavan Rebellion Group) have been taken out of circulation, senior garda sources told The Anglo-Celt that younger men from around the town are also styling themselves as members of a similar group and have been engaged in violent activity in recent weeks.

Cllr. Brian McKeown said at a recent joint policing board meeting that there now appears to be an upsurge in the use of crack cocaine in the town and this has added a new viciousness to youth behaviour.

A close friend of the 26-year-old man who was viciously attacked explained that they set upon him in Connolly Street as he walked home on Sunday night at 10.30pm. He was kicked repeatedly in the face, thumped to the back of the head and was slashed on the back four times with a sharp knife.

"He is a popular guy around Cavan town and is always cheerful and people can't believe that he was attacked in this violent manner, while walking home minding his own business," said the friend, who did not wish to be named.

He was removed to hospital by ambulance. His friend added that the injured man got such a kicking to both sides of his face that he found it difficult to lie down in one position for any amount of time.

We understand that the gardaí have taken a statement from the injured man and there were witnesses to the incident.

The friend called for garda foot patrols 24 hours a day.

She also said that any young men claiming to be gang members should be lifted off the streets and they certainly should not be on the streets when the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil is being staged in town.

"People will not come to Cavan town for the fleadh if they are afraid to walk the streets without being attacked by young men high on a cocktail of drugs. They have so much energy in their bodies that if this attack had to happen in a secluded place, this man would be in a coma today," said the friend. He won't walk home again.