NSW murder

Ballycastle man killed in Australia

Man charged with murder in Byron Bay, while Claremorris backpacker recovers from stabbing in Thailand

Anna-Marie Flynn and Emer Gallagher

BALLYCASTLE was in a state of shock yesterday (Monday) as news broke of the tragic death of Colm Kenny in Australia.
Police in New South Wales, Australia are currently investigating the death of the 30-year-old and have charged a man with his murder.
The former Mayo minor footballer died in Brisbane on Saturday morning as a result of injuries sustained in an assault. He was reportedly found on the roadside with severe head injuries at the resort of Byron Bay, 750km north of Sydney, on Sunday, May 11.
A 20-year-old man from Byron Bay was charged yesterday morning (Monday) with Mr Kenny’s murder after turning himself in to police. He appeared at a local court yesterday and has been granted conditional bail to appear in court again in July. Police are continuing to appeal for any witnesses who may have information to come forward.
Colm had been in Australia for a number of months prior to the attack. His mother and aunt travelled to his bedside last week, and witnessed him make a considerable recovery before he suffered a relapse and died at the weekend.
A former team-mate of Colm’s told The Mayo News he was deeply saddened by the news. “You couldn’t have met a nicer person than Colm; he was outgoing and friendly. His family are very well known in the area and they are real community people. Colm was like that too, he loved his hometown. This is a terrible tragedy.”
He is survived by his parents, retired garda, John, and Belderrig National School principal, Mary, and his two brothers, Ronan and Kieran.
Funeral arrangements were not available at the time of going to print.
Meanwhile, Claremorris backpacker Adrian Walsh was left fighting for his life last week after a stabbing incident in Thailand.
It is believed that the 25-year-old was stabbed in the kidney, causing damage to both the kidney and the liver. Fortunately, the Claremorris man is now said to be making a recovery after undergoing kidney dialysis and a blood transfusion.
He was is currently in a French hospital in Thailand where his brother John has joined him after travelling over upon hearing the news.
Adrian comes from a well-known family from Taugheen, Claremorris and his parents, Patsy and Kay, are a popular couple in the area having ran ‘Cheers Bar’ in Hollymount for a number of years.
Adrian had been travelling around Thailand with a friend and had plans to travel to Australia next month.