Looking Back, 1843: Highway Robberies around Kilcullen
On the night of Saturday, the 2nd last, as three poor men were returning from the market in Kilcullen, they were attacked at a place called Newabbey, within half a mile of the town, by four men, one of who was armed with a pistol, the remainder with clubs.
They knocked the three men down, and took £2.10s. and nine empty corn sacks from one, and £1.10s from another, and after beating them for some time made their escape.
A considerable degree of alarm has been created in a hitherto peaceful neighbourhood, as a gang certainly exists whose object is plunder.
A man named Whelan, on his return from the last fair in Naas, on the 17th, was stopped at Harristown bridge by some ruffians (one of whom had a pistol), who endeavoured to knock Whelan off his horse, demanding his money, and would have succeeded in robbing him, but for some persons who hastened to Whelan's assistance, when the villains were obliged to decamp.
Not long since the shop of a most respectable female in the town of Kilcullen was robbed, and an attempt made on two others.
It is hoped the small police force in Kilcullen will be augmented — no men can be more vigilant than the present party, but their number is too small. — Leinster Express.
(Credit to Dave Byrne, who has trawled through the old newspapers files for stories relating to Kilcullen of old.)
