POLICE IN ENGLAND are appealing for witnesses to an assault after the death of an Irishman at the weekend.

Police said 27-year-old Kevin Kelly was involved in an “altercation” on Sunday morning at around 5.15am.

The young man, originally from Kilkenny, was taken to hospital but later died of his injuries.

Kilkenny councillor Peter Cleere, who went to the same school as Kelly, told TheJournal.ie the whole community is “in shock”.

“Kevin would have gone over to Luton four or five years ago, but he was home regularly. He was actually home just a month ago for a wedding,” he said.

He was a lovely fella, really really nice. He loved a bit of craic, a bit of banter.

The 27-year-old had been running his own plastering business in Luton.

“He was full of life, full of energy and he had made a good life for himself,” Cleere said.

Appeal for witnesses

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Wall said today there may have been several people in the area making their way home at the end of a night out, and from CCTV police believe there may be witnesses to the incident.

“I’m appealing for anyone who saw the altercation, or who witnessed anything of note in the area around this time, to get in touch to help us piece together what happened,” he said.

A 23-year-old man from Luton was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and has been released on bail pending further police enquiries.

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