Community stunned by violent killing

The people of Kilkenny are this morning trying to come to terms with the violent murder of Mairead Moran.

Gardai are continuing to carry out a forensic and technical examination of the scene at the Market Cross Shopping Centre.

People made their way to work into the city centre this morning as the news slowly filtered through that this popular young woman was stabbed to death in the centre shortly after 8.30pm last night.

Padraig Lawlor, who owns the Gourmet Store on High Street said he was ‘shocked and stunned’ by the death.

“I am horrified that something like this has happened. My thoughts and condolences are with her family,” he said.

Tributes are pouring in on the social networking site, Facebook as friends remember a vivacious and caring woman.

Heartbroken friends have remembered her as a ‘kind, forgiving, understanding, incredibly non-judgemental, loved by everyone’.

“A great life was extinguished last night. Mairead was a truly amazing person who will be missed by many, many people who loved her. It is a horrific shock and a real tragedy to have her taken away from us. She will always be remembered as the kind, caring person,” one friend remarked.

Ms Moran is the daughter of Pete and Margo Moran, who run the local shop in Kilmoganny and has two sisters Colette and Michelle.

She went to secondary school at St Brigid’s in Callan and studied Complementary Therapy at the Waterford Institute of Further Education.