New variant on Abbeylara

Victor

Complaint at 11am and they didn't have a negotiator by 6pm (yes they didn't find him until "after lunchtime"). The garda spokesman on the radio early seemed to have problem with poly-syllabic words.

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/6246782?view=Eircomnet

Man shot dead in row over land had complained about his killer
From:The Irish Independent
Monday, 5th September, 2005

Father Eddie Orkney leaving the scene of the double shooting near Graiguenamanagh, Co Carlow, while residents gather in shock at the incident in which two men died. Right, a Garda detective removes a weapon. Pictures: Dylan Vaughan

A MAN who was shot dead in a row over land had made a number of complaints about the farmer who killed him.

Jim Healy told gardai that Michael Kehoe had threatened him with violence.

Mr Healy (30), a computer analyst from Garryduff, Paulstown, Co Kilkenny, had recently bought a plot of land from the Kehoe family against the wishes of Michael Kehoe (38), from Coolyhune, three miles from Graiguenamanagh on the Carlow-Kilkenny border.

Mr Healy was fencing the land with his brother Brian on Saturday morning when he was confronted by Michael Kehoe.

A heated argument ensued and Mr Kehoe discharged his shotgun and shot Mr Healy once in the back, killing him in front of his brother.

Brian Healy ran to a nearby farmhouse and raised the alarm while Mr Kehoe, in a distraught state, returned to his farm and barricaded himself in a shed.

Gardai arrived, a stand-off ensued, and Mr Kehoe later turned the gun on himself.

A spokesman for the gardai in Thomastown confirmed yesterday that they had received a number of complaints from Mr Healy alleging threats and intimidation from Mr Kehoe. The garda spokesman said the complaints were not of a very serious nature and had not required gardai to attend the scene previously.

The Garda spokesman also confirmed that the shotgun owned by Mr Kehoe was legally held.

It emerged yesterday Mr Kehoe had been planning a civil action against the man he shot dead. The land was at the centre of a long-running and fierce family feud and had been recently sold to Mr Healy by Mr Kehoe's brother and sister, Catherine and John.

Mr Kehoe had been farming the family-owned land and had opposed the sale. The land been had put up for sale at auction last year but the auction collapsed after Mr Kehoe stood up and told buyers the land was not for sale. However, it was later sold privately to Mr Healy.

Locals in the quiet rural area were in shock yesterday, and few wished to comment on the double tragedy. Both families also asked for privacy.

Local priest Fr Gerry Byrne asked for prayers for both afflicted families yesterday, and for the two men who died. He drew analogies from St Matthew's gospel, saying "people should love their neighbours like themselves".

Garda Chief Superintendent Pat Murphy said yesterday that gardai were trying to piece together the circumstances that led to the two men's death. Up to 40 gardai are involved in the overall investigation.

Chief Supt Murphy confirmed that no trained garda negotiator was at the scene but that one was on his way when Mr Keogh killed himself.

However, a trained scene commander from Wexford was there. He said gardai had received a report of a shooting at 11am on Saturday. When they went to the scene, they met with Mr Healy's brother, who told them what had happened, and they discovered Mr Healy's body in the field. Reinforcements were called in.

Shortly after lunchtime, gardai established the whereabouts of Mr Kehoe, who had barricaded himself inside a shed on his farm. A stand-off ensued for several hours with gardai, and Mr Kehoe refused to talk to them.

At about 4pm, he spoke to his brother John and a neighbour, and gardai were hopeful of convincing him to give himself up. Gardai lost contact with him shortly before 6pm.

A shotgun blast was heard shortly after that and when gardai investigated they found Mr Kehoe had shot himself.

"A shotgun was recovered from the scene and the man was found dead. As a result of that, a full criminal investigation into both deaths and the overall events is now underway," the garda spokesman said.

State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy conducted post mortems on both men's bodies in Waterford Regional Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Funeral arrangements for Mr Kehoe were announced last night. He will be taken from Waterford Regional Hospital at 6.30 this evening to Glynn Church and will be buried, following 11am Requiem Mass tomorrow, in the adjoining cemetery.

The remains of James Healy will leave Waterford Regional Hospital at 6.30 this evening to arrive at the Church of the Assumption in Paulstown for 7.3)pm. Burial will follow 11am Requiem Mass tomorrow.

Tom Felle and Sarah Murphy

Other stories:

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/6246509?view=Eircomnet
http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/6246904?view=Eircomnet