Friends mugged at knife-point critical of Garda response

Two friends who were mugged at knife-point in Waterford City have expressed criticism over the manner with which the matter was dealt with by the Gardaí.

Cian McLoughlin and a male friend were walking along Patrick Street, near the city centre, when they were approached by a young male carrying a knife.

Cian told the Waterford News & Star, the incident occurred at around 8.45pm on January 26, this year.

“We were threatened with a knife and held against a wall,” said Cian, who also said his assailant physically shoved him against a wall. He said the person holding the knife was wearing a ski mask while a number of his friends watched on from a short distance away.

“I would say they close enough in age to myself and my friend,” said Cian, who is 18 year of age.

Cian said it was frightening and very unpleasant ordeal for both of them to go through.

“There was one guy who did the mugging and there were two others a distance away,” he said.

“I’d say they were probably somewhere between 16 to 20 years of age,” he added.

As if their ordeal wasn’t bad enough Cian said the manner with which the Gardaí dealt with the matter left them very disappointed.

“I went into the police station on January 28, to try and make a statement but I was denied one,” he said.

While the Garda at the desk took down his details, Cian said he heard no more after that. After a week went by with no more contact he and his friend went back into the Garda Station in Waterford, on February 2, to try and get an update on the case.

“The police officer dealing with our case hadn’t put our details on the system and made no moves towards solving the crime,” said Cian.

However he said the Garda they dealt with the second time, took their details again and said he would check with the whoever the case officer was.

However, he said time went by again and no further communication was received from the Gardaí in relation to the matter.

“I went in again on multiple occasions trying to get them to do something, but nothing was ever done to help me,” he said.

Cian said he wrote to a senior officer in the station asking that the case be looked at urgently. A different Superintendent subsequently contacted him and he was “finally asked to make a statement to my case manager”.

“I made the statement on the case and was told by my officer that she would check the security camera footage of the incident the following day,” he said.

“I was never contacted again and I highly doubt the cameras even have the footage anymore,” he added.

Cian went on to expressed disappointment in how the matter was dealt with in general by the Gardaí, commenting: “To say I am disgusted and ashamed of our Gardai is an understatement.” When contacted about the matter, Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit said the matter is being fully investigated and that CCTV footage of the area in and around where the incident occurred is being looked at.

However, it’s believed that to-date CCTV footage of the actual incident occurring has not been viewed but some of the footage may have captured those suspected of being involved.

Anyone was in the vicinity of Little Patrick Street at the time of the incident and who may have witnessed it or seen people in the area at the time can contact Waterford Garda Station in strict confidence on 051 305300.