Kilkenny businessman holds major fears for the future of the city centre as local premises are attacked

A Kilkenny businessman has expressed huge frustration at the targeting of his and three other businesses in Kilkenny City this morning (Tuesday), where windows were smashed causing substantial damage.

The local outlets, all located in the Vicar Street/Irishtown area were targeted between 5am and 5.20am.

Speaking to KCLR 96FM, one of the local traders impacted, Fran Grincell of Grincell Auctioneers, stated the incident could deter local shop and business owners from moving in to residential areas above their premises or in other nearby city centre locations.

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"The windows are one thing but that's fine, we'd get over that but we spent huge money on this building putting in apartments to try and get decent people back living in the city and now you're looking at it saying, 'how are they going to living here if they're going to be woken in the night with beer barrels being thrown through the windows?" Mr Grincell commented.

"If you're in business a long time you get used to s***e like and that's okay but it's the fact you have to tolerate it and the chances are nothing will ever happen him (the culprit)," the local auctioneered claimed.

"They used a beer barrel and like the lads have to operate pubs, but now if it's an instrument to do damage then you have to say should we leave it (beer barrels) around?"

A male suspect, dressed in black, was seen by witnesses in the vicinity.

Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage or who saw any suspicious activity is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on (056) 777 5000.