New Oak community in shock over death of father of two

THE community of New Oak estate is in shock over the fatal assault on a father of two who died there last night.

The man, named locally as Darren Quigley (30) from New Oak estate, was found with serious injuries after gardaí responded to an incident at the house in the same estate shortly after 11.40pm.

Mr Quigley, who is survived by his two daughters and parents, was treated at the scene before being taken to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny, where he was later pronounced dead.

A woman, in her 30s was arrested a short time later during a follow-up operation involving local gardaÍ and the Armed Response Unit in Carlow town. She can be detained in garda custody for 24 hours after which she will be charged or released.

The community of the close-knit estate is “shocked” at what occurred in there.

“People are shocked, it’s an awful thing to have happened,” one resident told The Nationalist. “There are two families now that have to deal with all this. There are parents without their child. This area will do what it always does – it will lift itself up and carry on, as it has done in the past.” A Facebook page for the New Oak Community Centre issued a post in which they expressed their sympathies with Mr Quigley’s family.

It said: ‘We extend our condolences to his parents, brother and extended family and friends. We ask people to keep their thoughts and prayers at this terrible time . We ask people please respect the privacy of the family at this time.’ A Family Liaison Officer has been provided and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation.

Gardaí say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

They are appealing for any witnesses, particularly anyone with camera footage (including dashcam) in the New Oak Estate and nearby areas around the time of the incident to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059 9136620, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or any garda station.